Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has characterized the ongoing detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as politically motivated, following the politician’s recent transfer to the Department of State Services (DSS).
El-Rufai was taken into security custody on Wednesday immediately after a session at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. A senior figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai is currently standing trial on corruption charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Judicial authorities adjourned the proceedings to April 14 to process a bail application, after which operatives from the national security agency assumed control over the defendant.
In a statement released through media aide Paul Ibe, Atiku criticized the procedural handling of the case. According to the former vice president’s office, authorities initially released El-Rufai without securing the mandatory leave of the court. Ibe noted that this interim freedom, followed by unsuccessful attempts to influence the former governor’s political positioning, resulted in his renewed detention. The statement argued that the sequence of events validates claims of a selective and politically driven prosecution. Atiku’s representatives called on security agencies to finalize the release and uphold constitutional provisions that protect citizens’ rights to freely determine their political affiliations.
The corruption allegations against El-Rufai relate to administrative and financial matters from his tenure in office, charges he has consistently denied. Under Nigerian legal standards, suspects with active court cases are expected to remain under judicial oversight during adjourned periods. The agency’s transfer of El-Rufai without explicit court authorization has prompted discussions among legal professionals regarding procedural compliance and the boundaries of national security operations in politically sensitive litigation.
The case is scheduled to resume at the Federal High Court on April 14 for a hearing on the bail application. Legal observers note that the court’s ruling will establish important precedents for judicial oversight of executive detentions and may influence future political alignments within the region.
