(Nasir El-Rufai. Photo Credit; Guardian Nigeria News)
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has weighed in on the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai by the Department of State Services, calling for the process to be handled with fairness and strict adherence to due process.
In a statement released on Friday, Frank urged the authorities to respect El-Rufai’s rights and ensure he is given sufficient time and opportunity to prepare a proper defence.
He noted that the former governor had willingly presented himself to security agencies upon returning to Nigeria from Egypt, and stressed that the fight against corruption, however necessary, must not come at the expense of the rule of law.
“Fairness, justice, rule of law, and due process must never be sacrificed under any circumstance,” Frank stated, reaffirming his support for anti-corruption efforts while drawing a clear line between accountability and the violation of individual rights.
Frank extended an appeal to a wide range of stakeholders including northern elders and youths, the Nigerian Bar Association, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and the international community urging them to monitor the situation closely and demand El-Rufai’s release so he can adequately mount his defence.
He expressed particular concern that northern leaders should not remain passive in the face of what he implied could be an unjust outcome.
He also called on security agencies to conduct themselves with professionalism and transparency throughout the process, emphasising that justice and accountability should underpin every action taken in the matter.
El-Rufai remains a significant figure in Nigerian politics, having served as Kaduna State Governor and played a notable role in the 2023 general elections.
