Atiku Demands Clarity On El-Rufai’s Condition In Detention

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed serious concern over the detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urging the Federal Government to disclose which security agency was holding him and under what circumstances.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon, Atiku described the situation as “deeply troubling” and called for transparency from the authorities.

“The health and welfare of Nasir El-Rufai is a matter of grave concern to his family, friends, and associates,” Atiku wrote. “The Federal Government owes Nigerians clarity. It must state clearly which agency is holding him, whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS), or any other arm of the security establishment.”

Atiku warned that secrecy surrounding El-Rufai’s detention could fuel public suspicion and undermine trust in the justice system.

“Secrecy in matters of detention only fuels suspicion. Nigerians deserve transparency,” he stated. “Whichever agency is responsible has a constitutional duty to guarantee his safety, dignity, access to medical care, and access to his family and legal representatives.”

The former vice president described reports that El-Rufai allegedly suffered a nosebleed while his family was denied access to him as “unacceptable in a democracy.”

“If the authorities cannot guarantee his health and fundamental rights, the lawful and humane course of action is to grant him bail without delay. If anything happens to El-Rufai, this government will be held accountable,” Atiku warned.

He further cautioned against what he described as a “growing perception of selective prosecution” in the government’s anti-corruption drive, where opposition figures were allegedly targeted while others remained untouched.

“More troubling, however, is the growing perception of selective prosecution, in which opposition figures are aggressively pursued while others are conspicuously shielded from investigation or interrogation. Anti-corruption must not become a political weapon,” he said.

Atiku added that the continued detention of El-Rufai “under unclear circumstances raises serious questions about motive,” stressing that anti-corruption efforts must not appear “partisan, coercive, or strategically timed.”

“Justice must be transparent. Accountability must be even-handed. And the rule of law must apply to all without fear, without favour, and without political bias,” the former Vice President concluded.