According to a report by The Punch on Friday, May 15, 2026, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has appealed to the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to ensure the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai before the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, describing his continued detention as unjust and politically motivated.
The appeal was made in a statement released by Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication. In the statement, the former vice president condemned what he called the use of government institutions to harass or suppress political opponents.
Atiku stated that keeping El-Rufai in custody during a major religious period raises serious concerns about respect for civil rights, democratic values, and adherence to due legal process. He warned against turning democracy into a means of intimidation or selective prosecution.
He further argued that if there are legitimate legal reasons for El-Rufai’s detention, authorities should openly explain the situation to Nigerians instead of leaving room for speculation.
According to Atiku, every Nigerian citizen, irrespective of political disagreements or affiliations, deserves constitutional protections, including personal freedom, dignity, and fair treatment under the law.
Commenting on the matter, he said there was no valid reason to prevent someone from spending such an important spiritual occasion with family, especially when due process has not been clearly established.
The call for El-Rufai’s release comes shortly after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission announced that a Federal High Court in Kaduna approved medical access for the former governor while he remains in custody over an ongoing corruption case.
El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are currently standing trial before the Federal High Court in Kaduna on allegations involving corruption, money laundering, and diversion of funds. Both men have denied the accusations….See More
