The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate release or formal arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, condemning his continued detention without charges as a breach of fundamental rights and the Nigerian Constitution.
El-Rufai, who initially honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 32 days ago, was subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). According to the ADC, he has now spent more than 30 days in detention without arraignment, formal charges, or access to family and medical care.
In a statement signed on Wednesday by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described El-Rufai’s detention as “illegal, unconstitutional, and an affront to the democratic principles of Nigeria.”
The party added that, by his own account, El-Rufai was allegedly coerced into relinquishing his political rights and associations in exchange for freedom. “Freedom is not a privilege that is granted at the pleasure of the executive branch. It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. The right to liberty, the right to fair hearing, and the right to political participation are not negotiable or conditional,” the statement read.
ADC further warned that a government detaining citizens without charge and demanding silence in exchange for freedom “is not acting like a democratic government; it is behaving like something else entirely.” The party called on relevant state actors, including the National Security Adviser and the leadership of ICPC, to comply immediately with constitutional provisions.
“For the avoidance of doubt…the ICPC was established to investigate and prosecute corruption, and strengthen public trust in governance—not to serve as an instrument of political suppression or a tool in partisan political battles,” the statement said.
The ADC also urged Nigerians across party lines, religions, and states to defend the Constitution, warning that “the erosion of rights rarely begins with everyone; it begins with one and spreads where silence permits it.” The party drew parallels to historical abuses resisted during the NADECO era, calling the situation both ironic and shameful.
El-Rufai remains in custody amid multiple investigations. The Department of State Services filed three-count cybercrime charges against him following his February 13 Arise TV interview, in which he admitted accessing intercepted phone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. He linked the tapped conversations to an attempted detention at Abuja airport on February 12.
Separately, EFCC and ICPC are probing the alleged diversion of N432 billion in Kaduna State public funds. El-Rufai was detained by EFCC on February 16, granted bail on February 18, and immediately rearrested by ICPC.
