A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai is politically motivated, linking the situation to his association with the opposition party.
Okonkwo made the claim on Friday while appearing on Morning Brief on Channels Television, where he criticised the detention and described it as a violation of El-Rufai’s constitutional rights.
“He is being maltreated, he is being persecuted because he has joined ADC, and we are not exculpating anybody,” Okonkwo said, attributing responsibility for the situation to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“For now, he is using his authority as the commander-in-chief to use the instrumentality of the anti-corruption agencies in courts, because I wonder whether there is any commission fighting corruption in Tinubu’s regime,” he added.
Okonkwo argued that holding El-Rufai in custody without formally charging him contradicts constitutional provisions on fundamental human rights, maintaining that security agencies do not have the authority to detain suspects indefinitely while investigations continue.
“That is illegal, and any such order is unconstitutional. If El-Rufai committed any crime, please bring him to trial, grant him bail, so that if he is convicted, fine, nobody in ADC is quarrelling against the rule of law,” he said.
The lawyer further maintained that arrests should occur only after investigations have been completed and not before.
“The whole idea of arrest is that you have completed your investigation and found the person culpable for the crime you alleged he committed. It is the duty of the prosecution to prove the guilt of the suspect, not the suspect to defend his innocence,” he stated.
El-Rufai has remained in custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February 19, following his earlier release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
On Wednesday, a magistrate’s court in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, granted the ICPC a fresh 14-day detention order as investigations into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office continue. Members of El-Rufai’s family have since criticised the decision and questioned the legality of the continued detention.
What you should know
Nasir El-Rufai served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and was previously a senior official in Nigeria’s federal government.
Known for his strong political influence and outspoken views, El-Rufai has remained an active figure in national politics after leaving office.
His ongoing investigation by anti-corruption agencies over alleged financial misconduct has drawn significant public attention, particularly as opposition figures claim the case may be politically driven amid shifting alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
