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| Photo credit — Peter Obi & Nasir El-Rufai |
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have again urged authorities to release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. El-Rufai has been held in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February amid ongoing investigations and court cases.
Obi’s media aide, Idris Zekeri, told Saturday Punch that the former Anambra State governor has consistently insisted any allegations against El-Rufai must follow due process. Zekeri noted that Obi has spoken out repeatedly, including through social media posts and a press conference.
“Peter Obi has been one of the most vocal since the issue of El-Rufai’s ordeal started. He has made tweets on it, and we still strongly believe that if there is any case against him, it should be established instead of detaining him unlawfully for an extended period of time without actually dealing with the issue,” Zekeri said. “In fact, Obi has had an extensive press conference on this. We strongly believe that no Nigerian should be suffering extended detention without a charge and without his rights being respected.”
The ICPC has stated that court orders support the detention. El-Rufai has challenged aspects of his continued custody and the related proceedings. On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja reserved judgment on his no-case submission in a matter involving the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The court set October 26 for the ruling. Separately, El-Rufai’s ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit against the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation was adjourned to October 27.
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Meanwhile, Momodu, who serves as Deputy Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council’s Media and Communications Directorate, criticised the prolonged detention during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday. He recalled El-Rufai’s earlier role in the political events that led to President Bola Tinubu’s emergence.
“We can all see what he experienced in the hands of a government he helped to midwife. Without former President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari and Nasir El-Rufai, I am not sure President Tinubu will be in office today,” Momodu said. “But if that is the way they have chosen to treat him because someone desperately wanted a second term and believes that with Nasir around, it might be difficult, God is the ultimate judge.”
Momodu also welcomed the ADC’s decision to include El-Rufai in its political structure despite the detention. “What the ADC has done is to, at least, dignify the man with an appointment. Whether he is able to attend to it or not is immaterial. But I am very happy that the ADC found it very necessary to put him on that list.”
Responding to criticisms of El-Rufai’s style as Kaduna governor, particularly claims of divisive politics, Momodu argued that the same political establishment previously supported him. “Barely four years ago, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was busy campaigning for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; was he not in government then? Did they find him divisive at the time, or is it now that he is not in circulation? They just want to give a dog a bad name to hang it.
“Although in our attitude as human beings, no soul is perfect. But El-Rufai remains one of the most formidable political figures from northern Nigeria, especially in the North-West. Every presidential candidate wants to win in the North-West because without it, there is no way you can win the election.
The majority of the votes will come from that direction, and that is why Nasir has become a prisoner of conscience. I have no doubt in my mind that if he were still in the good book of the government, he would not go through this ordeal. But we leave everything in the hands of Allah.”
These comments reflect ongoing political debate around the case. El-Rufai continues to face legal processes, and the courts will determine the outcome of the pending applications.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers news, politics, current affairs, education, and technology.
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