Abuja, Nigeria — A fresh political dispute has emerged in Nigeria as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called on authorities to either formally charge former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, or release him from custody.
The opposition party criticised what it described as prolonged detention without legal proceedings, stating that El-Rufai has spent more than 30 days in custody without being brought before a court.
According to the ADC, the former governor initially responded to an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, but was later detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
In a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the situation violates constitutional protections. The statement read, “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 party also raised concerns that El-Rufai may have been pressured to give up his political associations in exchange for his release, although authorities have not publicly addressed the allegation.
It added, “A government that detains without charge, intimidates without evidence, and demands silence in exchange for freedom is not acting like a democratic government; it is behaving like something else entirely.”
The ADC urged security agencies and government officials, including the National Security Adviser’s office and the leadership of the ICPC, to follow constitutional procedures. It stressed that anti-corruption institutions should not be used in political disputes.
The case has drawn attention due to multiple investigations involving the former governor. The Department of State Services has filed cybercrime charges against him following a February 13 television interview in which he acknowledged accessing intercepted phone conversations linked to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai also claimed that those events were connected to an attempted detention at Abuja’s main airport on February 12.
In addition, both the EFCC and the ICPC are investigating allegations involving ₦432 billion (about $288 million) in Kaduna State public funds.
He was first detained on February 16, granted bail two days later, and then rearrested immediately by another agency.
As of Wednesday, March 18, 2026, he remains in custody without a confirmed court date, while political reactions continue to grow over the legality of his detention.