Former Nigerian Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other political detainees, describing their continued incarceration as a threat to democratic principles.
Speaking after his return from Umrah, Atiku led a delegation to visit former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN. During the visit, he addressed the growing concern over the detention of figures based on political differences rather than clear legal violations.
“Authorities must release Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and all others held for political reasons,” Atiku stated. “In a true democracy, no citizen should be penalized or detained simply because they hold a different ideology or belong to a different political platform than the government in power.”
The former Vice President emphasized that respect for civil liberties is the bedrock of any free society. His comments come amid reports that El-Rufai is being held in connection with investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), with further interest from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Human rights organizations and legal experts have echoed Atiku’s concerns, urging the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to ensure that due process is strictly followed and that the justice system is not used as a tool for political accountability.
Atiku concluded by calling on the federal government to uphold the rule of law and protect the political rights of all Nigerians, regardless of their affiliations.
