Lawyers representing former Nasir El-Rufai have filed a series of petitions before religious organisations and international human rights bodies, alleging political persecution and unlawful detention of the outspoken opposition figure.
The petitions, dated March 2, 2026, were submitted by the law firm B.B. Michika & Associates on behalf of a group of concerned citizens and associates, calling for urgent intervention from both local and global institutions.
Among the bodies contacted are the United States Embassy in Nigeria, British High Commission, European Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Others include the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Nigerian Bar Association, National Peace Committee, Christian Association of Nigeria, and the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), alongside the National Human Rights Commission and several global advocacy groups.
In the petition, the lawyers alleged that El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State, is being subjected to “political persecution, prolonged detention, harassment and denial of fundamental human rights.”
The legal team argued that the former governor—described in the document as an opposition leader and vocal critic of the current administration—has faced multiple overlapping investigations by government agencies since his fallout with authorities at the centre.
According to the petitioners, the actions against him raise concerns about due process and respect for constitutional safeguards.
They cited provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly Section 35 on the right to personal liberty and Section 36 on the right to fair hearing, which they claim have been violated.
The petition also referenced international legal protections, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit arbitrary detention.
While acknowledging that public officials should be subject to scrutiny by law enforcement agencies, the lawyers maintained that such investigations must be conducted strictly within the confines of the law and not used as tools to silence opposition voices.
They warned that continued actions perceived as politically motivated could undermine the rule of law and weaken democratic institutions in Nigeria.
The petition therefore urged international partners, religious bodies and human rights organisations to closely monitor the situation and ensure that the rights of the former governor are protected in accordance with constitutional and international standards.
As of press time, there had been no official response from the Nigerian government regarding the claims contained in the petition.
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