By Peter Omopo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as an assault on the rule of law and democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku called on the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to release El-Rufai ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
The former vice president described the development as “cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling,” warning against the use of state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents.
Atiku, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said the continued detention of the former governor raised concerns about political persecution and selective justice.
According to him, denying El-Rufai his liberty during a significant religious period without clear demonstration of due process was unacceptable.
“At a time when millions of Muslims across Nigeria and around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, it would be unconscionable for any government to weaponise state power in a manner that denies a citizen his liberty without just cause,” he said.
He added that democracy should not be used as a platform to punish dissent or settle political scores, stressing that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to constitutional rights, including dignity, liberty and fair hearing.
Atiku also argued that if the detention of the former governor was based on legitimate legal grounds, authorities owed Nigerians transparency regarding the process.
He warned that selective justice could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and the rule of law.
“The credibility of any democracy is measured not by how it treats loyalists, but by how it treats perceived opponents,” he stated.
The call for El-Rufai’s release comes about a week after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission disclosed that a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted the former governor access to medical treatment while in custody.
El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are currently facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, over alleged money laundering, conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
