Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has marked 256 days in detention, prompting him to appeal to global leaders and human rights organizations for a fair trial. On Friday, El-Rufai posted on his X account, mentioning US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside the United Nations, UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, European Union, African Union, and several international media organizations. He tagged the White House, British government, UK Parliament, and media outlets like CNN, BBC, and The New York Times.
El-Rufai emphasized that access to justice and a fair hearing are fundamental human rights, not privileges or favors. "A fair trial is not an act of mercy. It is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right," he declared. This appeal comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed his no-case submission. The court ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence, requiring El-Rufai to enter his defense. The case, instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS), involves alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications with National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS filed charges against El-Rufai following an interview with Arise Television in February, where he discussed the alleged interception of Ribadu's conversations. The former governor denied the allegations and argued that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case. However, the court rejected his application, adjourning the matter until November 25 for the defense stage. El-Rufai's legal troubles also include separate corruption and financial misconduct cases filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The ICPC filed charges against El-Rufai over transactions and decisions during his eight-year administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. Allegations include money laundering, conversion and possession of public property, abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage. The commission linked its investigation to a petition by the Kaduna State House of Assembly over alleged financial misconduct involving about N432bn. El-Rufai was initially taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in February and later transferred to the ICPC.
El-Rufai was briefly released on compassionate grounds in March to attend his mother's burial in Egypt before returning to the ICPC's custody. His continued detention has generated several legal battles, particularly over bail applications. On October 9, the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed his appeal challenging the refusal of his second bail application by the Kaduna State High Court. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision, citing El-Rufai's failure to establish fresh facts or special circumstances.
El-Rufai's lawyers argued that the offenses were bailable and that his continued detention affected his ability to prepare for his defense. The ICPC opposed the appeal, insisting that the trial court acted judicially in refusing the application. As a prominent opposition figure and leading member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), El-Rufai has questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest and investigation, alleging that his ordeal is politically motivated.
El-Rufai has maintained that he is prepared to answer allegations against him in court, rather than submit to prolonged detention. The ICPC has defended its actions, insisting that the investigation and detention were conducted in accordance with the law. The allegations against El-Rufai should be determined through judicial proceedings, the commission said.
Key points
- El-Rufai seeks international attention for fair trial after 256 days in detention
- Former Kaduna governor faces multiple charges, including money laundering and abuse of office
- El-Rufai alleges his detention is politically motivated, while ICPC insists it acted lawfully
