Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Speaking through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described El-Rufai’s ongoing detention as particularly harsh and unwarranted, especially as Nigerian Muslims prepare for Eid al-Kabir, a period meant for compassion and unity. He called the situation a grave violation of fundamental rights and democratic norms.
Atiku argued that El-Rufai’s confinement represents a troubling misuse of state machinery to target political rivals, undermining the rule of law. He stressed that any government that claims to uphold justice must treat all citizens equally, regardless of their political affiliations.
“The credibility of a democracy is tested not by how it favors allies, but by how it protects the rights of its critics,” Atiku stated, emphasizing that selective enforcement of the law is a form of injustice.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since his arrest, and the commission has opposed his bail application in court. Atiku’s call adds to growing pressure on the federal government to ensure due process and uphold constitutional guarantees of liberty and fair treatment.