The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission held former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el Rufai in custody for more than 30 days without charges. Authorities invited el Rufai to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 32 days earlier.
He honoured the invitation and secured release after two days. However, the ICPC detained him immediately afterward. El Rufai remained in custody without arraignment or formal charges.
Bolaji Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the African Democratic Congress, released a statement on Wednesday. The party described the detention as illegal and unconstitutional. Abdullahi stated that the move amounted to weaponisation of state institutions against political participation.
He added that conditions included restrictions on family visits and medical access. Moreover, el Rufai faced coercion to abandon his political rights and associations in exchange for freedom.
Abdullahi declared that the continued detention violated constitutional rights to liberty, fair hearing and political participation. He explained that freedom was not a privilege granted by the executive but a guaranteed right.
The African Democratic Congress further called the situation a stain on Nigeria’s democracy and a descent into lawlessness under the Bola Tinubu led government.
The ADC threatened to petition Amnesty International and other human rights organisations. Abdullahi warned that detaining a citizen interminably marked the hallmark of dictatorship and had no place in democracy.
The party demanded immediate release of el Rufai or his arraignment in a competent court. It also cautioned that failure to act set a dangerous precedent for other citizens.
