Our Correspondent
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai following a high-profile visit to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Atiku disclosed the development in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, shortly after returning to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser Hajj (Umrah). According to him, the visit to Malami was a show of solidarity amid the latter’s ongoing legal battles.
“I led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, following my return to the country on Saturday night from Umrah,” Atiku stated.
During the visit, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party urged authorities to release El-Rufai and others he described as political detainees, warning against the use of state power to suppress dissent.
“I wish to serve notice to the authorities detaining former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and all other political detainees to release them henceforth,” he said.
He stressed that no individual should be detained on the basis of political differences, adding that democracy must be anchored on tolerance and respect for opposing views.
“No one should be detained simply because they do not share the same ideology or political platform with the government of the day,” Atiku added.
However, Atiku did not provide further details regarding the circumstances surrounding El-Rufai’s alleged detention, which has yet to be officially clarified by authorities.
Legal Troubles for Malami
Malami, who served as Attorney General under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is currently standing trial over multiple allegations, including terrorism financing, illegal possession of firearms, as well as an alleged N8.7 billion fraud and money laundering case.
The proceedings resumed last Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where prosecution witnesses—among them compliance officers from Union Bank and Access Bank—gave testimonies on financial transactions linked to accounts associated with Meethaq Hotels Ltd, Rayhaan Bustan, and other entities.
During the hearing, Malami, his wife, and later their son were present in court. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted several documents as exhibits, including bank statements and official correspondences, as the trial progressed.
The case has been adjourned to April 20 for continuation of hearing.
Background and Political Context
The development comes against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Nigeria, with increasing scrutiny of opposition figures and former public office holders. Atiku’s intervention signals a growing concern among political actors over what some perceive as the politicisation of legal processes.
While authorities have yet to respond to the former vice president’s claims, the call for El-Rufai’s release is likely to further stir debate on the balance between law enforcement and political freedoms in the country.