Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is now in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), following his arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after his release on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday.
The development has drawn commentary from prominent human rights lawyer Professor Chidi Odinkalu, a former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission. Speaking to Channels TV, Odinkalu stated that El-Rufai’s treatment of critics during his tenure warrants full legal accountability.
“What I’ve said is a lot more than Nasir El-Rufai afforded those whom he treated as critics,” Odinkalu said, alleging a record of “extraordinary impunity, recklessness and brutality.” He cited specific cases, including the 2019 abduction and killing of Dr. Rafael Galadima, and the unresolved 2017 disappearance of critic Dadiyata. Odinkalu also pointed to the conversion of traditional kingdoms to emirates and the demolition of political opponents’ properties as state-directed actions under El-Rufai’s administration.
“I don’t think the one person who can frankly complain about due process is Nasir El-Rufai,” he added.
Odinkalu emphasized that no individual, regardless of political standing, should be granted impunity. He noted El-Rufai’s prominent role in supporting the current federal administration, questioning the consistency of his current predicament with his past political influence.
The ICPC has confirmed El-Rufai is in its custody. The commission is expected to continue its investigation, the nature of which remains unspecified. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of public officials from previous administrations and the operations of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies.
The episode highlights the intersection of political accountability, human rights legacies, and law enforcement in Nigeria’s contemporary governance landscape. Further legal proceedings will determine the direction of the ICPC’s case against the former governor.
