Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that the federal government would be held accountable if any harm comes to the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in custody.

El-Rufai had voluntarily honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16. Two days later, he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after being released by the EFCC.

Both anti-graft agencies are investigating the former governor over alleged financial irregularities linked to his administration in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.

In a statement issued on Monday, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed that the former governor had spent eight days in detention and reportedly suffered an overnight nosebleed while in custody. Adekeye added that El-Rufai’s lawyers had not been shown any remand order authorising his detention beyond the constitutionally allowed 48 hours without charge.

He further said El-Rufai’s legal team and family were “having difficulties in securing access to him in detention”.

Reacting Tuesday via a post on X, Atiku said the former governor’s health and well-being were a matter of serious concern to his family, friends, and associates. He called on the federal government to clearly state which agency currently has custody of El-Rufai, whether the EFCC, ICPC, the State Security Service (SSS), or any other security body.

“Secrecy in matters of detention only fuels suspicion. Nigerians deserve transparency,” Atiku said.

“Whichever agency is responsible has a constitutional duty to guarantee his safety, dignity, access to medical care, and access to his family and legal representatives.”

He argued that if government agencies are unable to safeguard El-Rufai’s health and fundamental rights, the appropriate and humane option would be to grant him bail immediately.

“If anything happens to El-Rufai, this government will be held accountable,” he warned.

Atiku also expressed concern over what he described as a growing perception of selective prosecution, alleging that opposition figures are being targeted while others are shielded from scrutiny.

“More troubling, however, is the growing perception of selective prosecution, in which opposition figures are aggressively pursued while others are conspicuously shielded from investigation or interrogation.”

He stressed that the fight against corruption must not be weaponised for political purposes, adding that El-Rufai’s continued detention under “unclear circumstances” raises questions about the true motive behind the action.

According to him, anti-corruption efforts lose credibility when they appear partisan or coercive, insisting that justice must be transparent and accountability even-handed.

“The rule of law must apply to all; without fear, without favour, and without political bias,” he said. (Vanguard)

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