Atiku Demands El-Rufai's Release

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the continued detention of Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Nigeria — Kaduna State, describing it as 'cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.' Atiku Abubakar has urged President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria — Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to immediately release Nasir El-Rufai, especially as Muslims prepare for Eid al-Kabir celebrations. He views the detention as an assault on civil liberties, democratic decency, and the rule of law, raising concerns about the use of state power to intimidate political adversaries. Nasir El-Rufai, along with Joel Adoga, is currently facing a 10-count charge from the Nigeria — Independent Corrupt Practices Commission for alleged money laundering and corruption-related offenses, to which both have pleaded not guilty. Atiku Abubakar emphasized that Nasir El-Rufai, as a Nigerian citizen, is entitled to constitutional protections, including dignity, liberty, and due process, regardless of political differences. He warned that selective justice undermines public confidence in the rule of law and that the credibility of any democracy is measured by how it treats perceived opponents.