By Ade Oyeyemi
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, have renewed calls for the release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has remained in detention amid ongoing legal proceedings.
Obi, through his media aide, Idris Zekeri, said the former governor’s continued detention should be resolved through due process, insisting that any allegations against him ought to be determined by the courts.
Zekeri told Saturday PUNCH that Obi had repeatedly spoken against prolonged detention without the speedy determination of the allegations involved.
According to him, Obi’s position is that no Nigerian should be held for an extended period without the authorities properly addressing the case against the individual.
“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.
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission amid investigations and separate court proceedings. The commission has maintained that his detention and related actions were backed by court orders.
His legal battle has continued in the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court recently adjourned his N1bn fundamental rights suit against the ICPC, Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General of the Federation until October 27.
The former governor is challenging the legality of actions taken during a search of his Abuja residence and is seeking, among other reliefs, damages and an order restraining the authorities from using materials allegedly recovered during the operation. The respondents have opposed his claims and maintained that the search was conducted pursuant to a valid court warrant.
Also speaking on the matter, Momodu criticised El-Rufai’s continued detention during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday.
The media chieftain argued that El-Rufai’s role in the political developments that preceded the emergence of President Bola Tinubu should not be ignored.
Momodu said, “Without former President Muhammad Buhari, Aisha Buhari and Nasir El-Rufai, I am not sure President Tinubu will be in office today.”
He also welcomed the decision of the ADC to give El-Rufai a position in its political structure despite his inability to participate actively while in 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,” Momodu stated.
Responding to criticisms that El-Rufai had pursued divisive politics during his tenure as Kaduna governor, Momodu argued that the former governor had previously received political backing from the same establishment that now criticised him.
He recalled El-Rufai’s involvement in the campaign for Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election, questioning why his political conduct was not similarly criticised at the time.
Momodu described El-Rufai as a significant political figure in the North-West and said his influence remained relevant to Nigeria’s political calculations.
The renewed calls came shortly after El-Rufai reflected publicly on the reaction of some of his former associates, friends and relatives to his detention.
In a statement titled “My Relationships and the Aftermath,” shared on his X account, the former governor said he harboured no resentment towards people who had chosen not to support him during his current ordeal.
El-Rufai said his decision over the years to support individuals and causes had been driven by his faith, upbringing, personal values and conscience rather than an expectation that such support would eventually be reciprocated.
He added that his present circumstances had made him reconsider some relationships but said the reflection should not be interpreted as condemnation or a desire for revenge.
