Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on federal authorities and the Kaduna State Government to immediately release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his continued detention before the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations as “cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.”
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the situation as a violation of civil liberties, democratic norms, and the rule of law, and warned against the use of state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents.
“At a time when millions of Muslims across Nigeria and around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir — a sacred season of sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness, and family reunion — it would be unconscionable for any government to weaponise state power in a manner that denies a citizen his liberty without just cause,” Atiku said.
“Eid is a time for mercy, reconciliation, and humanity. There is absolutely no justification for keeping a man away from his family during such a solemn and spiritually significant occasion, especially where due process has not been clearly demonstrated. I therefore call for the immediate release of Mallam El-Rufai and urge all relevant authorities to rise above political bitterness and act in the interest of justice, peace, and national cohesion.”
Atiku said that if the former Kaduna governor is being detained through a legal process, authorities should be transparent with Nigerians. He added that democracy does not grant the government the licence to punish dissent or deploy coercive institutions as instruments of intimidation.
The demand comes one week after the ICPC announced that a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted El-Rufai access to medical treatment while in custody. El-Rufai and a co-defendant are facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
