Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asked for the release of a former Governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and other political detainees from detention.

Atiku made the request in a post on X on Monday, @atiku, after leading a delegation on a solidarity visit to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 and now a key political figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said no individual should be detained for not sharing the same ideology or political platform with the government of the day.

“Following my return to the country on Saturday night from Umrah (lesser Hajj), I led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

“I wish to serve notice to the authorities detaining former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, @elrufai, and all other political detainees to release them henceforth. No one should be detained simply because they do not share the same Ideology or political platform with the government of the day,” the post on @atiku read.

On March 9th, a former Governor of Anambra State and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, said the current administration must put an end to what he called the blatant persecution of political opponents disguised as criminal prosecution.

In a post on X, the chieftain of the ADC said the integrity of the rule of law in Nigeria is non-negotiable as its degradation undermines economic development and threatens national stability.

He described the arrests and continued detention of key leaders from the ADC, namely Malami and El-Rufai, as “worrisome”.

He said the timing of their arrests—coinciding with their commitment to ensure the current administration is voted out in 2027—raised serious questions.

Obi stated that the methods used in their apprehension contradicted the principles of the rule of law, stressing that prosecutorial decisions must be grounded in concrete evidence and probable cause, transparently presented without ulterior motives.

The Anambra State-born politician said he “wholeheartedly” supported the fight against corruption and wrongdoing, but it must be conducted with integrity and transparency, starting with those currently in power rather than targeting opponents.

Before Obi’s remarks, the leadership of ADC had accused the Federal Government of applying “selective justice” in the legal proceedings against El-Rufai and Malami.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party contrasted their treatment with a separate high-profile case involving allegations of passport forgery and international conspiracy, where the accused were granted bail and proceedings are moving swiftly.

The party specifically criticized the “rapid succession” of transfers between law enforcement agencies, questioning whether detention is being used as an “investigative shortcut” or an “instrument of pressure” to keep opposition leaders out of the public eye.

On March 18th, the ADC also vowed to petition Amnesty International and other human rights groups if El-Rufai, who has been held in ICPC custody for over 30 days, is not released immediately.

In a strongly worded statement, the ADC described his continued detention as illegal, unconstitutional, and a grave violation of fundamental human rights.

The party claimed attempts to coerce El-Rufai into abandoning his political choice and called on the ICPC to uphold the rule of law by immediately releasing El-Rufai from custody to enable him to prepare his own defence.

It said the ICPC was established to investigate and prosecute corruption and to strengthen the public’s trust in governance, not to serve as an instrument of political suppression or a tool in partisan political battles.

As of March 2026, El-Rufai is entangled in both criminal prosecutions and civil suits.

Also, Malami’s legal situation involves multiple agencies and severe allegations:

Terrorism & Firearms Charges: The Department of State Services (DSS) filed charges against Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, regarding alleged terrorism and the unlawful possession of firearms. The Attorney General’s office formally took over this prosecution in early March 2026.

Money Laundering: Parallel to the security case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Malami, his wife (Asabe), and his son on a 16-count charge. They are accused of money laundering and the illicit acquisition of assets valued at over ₦8.7 billion.

Asset Forfeiture: In January 2026, another court granted an interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to Malami as part of the ongoing investigation into his finances.

Both men have maintained their innocence. (Nigerian Tribune)

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