Atiku calls for immediate release of El-Rufai

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately release Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State.

In a statement released on Friday through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described El-Rufai’s continued detention as cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.

He noted that the timing is particularly insensitive as Muslims across the country and the world prepare for the sacred Eid al-Kabir celebrations, a period traditionally associated with mercy, sacrifice, and family reunions.

Atiku characterized the former governor’s ordeal as an assault on civil liberties and democratic norms.

He warned that the use of state institutions to intimidate or silence political opponents poses a grave threat to the rule of law.

According to the former Vice President, regardless of political affiliations or past disagreements, every Nigerian citizen is entitled to the protections offered by the Constitution, including the right to due process and personal dignity.

The statement further argued that the credibility of a democratic government is measured by its commitment to justice rather than the pursuit of perceived enemies.

Atiku stressed that selective justice is injustice and urged the federal authorities to rise above political bitterness.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been in custody following investigations by anti-graft agencies into allegations of financial impropriety during his tenure as governor, as well as separate charges related to cybercrime and national security.

Atiku’s intervention adds to the growing calls for the government to ensure that legal proceedings against the former governor are conducted with transparency and respect for his fundamental rights.