 has condemned the prolonged detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, describing it as a “grave violation” of his){kind=link}
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the prolonged detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, describing it as a “grave violation” of his fundamental human rights.
In a strongly worded press statement, the opposition party decried El-Rufai’s continued stay in custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for over 30 days without formal charges, warning that it may escalate the matter to international human rights bodies, including Amnesty International.
The ADC alleged that the detention was not only illegal and unconstitutional but also an attempt to pressure the former governor into abandoning his political affiliations. It called on authorities to immediately release him to allow proper legal defence.
According to the party, “detention without trial is the hallmark of dictatorship and has no place in a democratic society,” insisting that the situation signals a dangerous drift from the rule of law.
The statement further accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of weaponising state institutions to suppress political participation, urging key officials, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure strict compliance with constitutional provisions.
Recounting the sequence of events, the ADC said El-Rufai had initially honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before being re-arrested by the ICPC, where he has since remained without arraignment.
The party warned that failure to secure his immediate release would compel it to formally petition international watchdogs, escalating what it described as “a stain on Nigeria’s democratic conscience.”
Reaffirming its stance, the ADC stressed that agencies like the ICPC were created to fight corruption—not to serve as tools for political intimidation—adding that Nigeria’s democracy must not be undermined by “fear, silence, or selective justice.”
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