Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, marked 256 days in detention on Friday and renewed his demand for a fair trial.
He shared the update through a statement on his official X account. In the post, El-Rufai stated: “El-Rufai Detention Update. Today Exactly 256 days @elrufai in Detention. A Human Right, Not a Favor. A fair trial is not an act of mercy. It is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right.”
El-Rufai entered custody on February 16, 2026, after he responded to an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The commission questioned him over allegations of financial mismanagement during his administration in Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.
The allegations stemmed from a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The report raised concerns over the handling of approximately ₦423 billion to ₦432 billion during his eight-year tenure.
Authorities released El-Rufai briefly in March on compassionate grounds. He attended the burial of his mother and then returned to detention.
Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission continued to hold him under a court remand order linked to the financial allegations.
Separately, El-Rufai faced charges over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.
A Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed his no-case submission. The court ordered him to enter his defence, and further proceedings were expected to continue.
El-Rufai maintained throughout that a fair trial remained a basic right under the law. His statement on Friday underscored that position without further comment from officials on the latest update.
