Former presidential candidate Peter Obi and politician Dele Momodu have criticised the prolonged detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, calling for respect for due process and the rule of law.
El-Rufai has remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, amid investigations and legal proceedings relating to allegations connected to his tenure as governor.
Obi said allegations against any citizen should be investigated and prosecuted through established legal procedures, stressing that prolonged detention without a final determination could raise concerns about fundamental rights.
Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, also condemned El-Rufai’s continued detention. He described the former governor as a prisoner of conscience and defended his inclusion in the ADC campaign council despite his ongoing legal battles.
Momodu argued that El-Rufai should not be excluded from political activities simply because he is facing investigations. He said the former governor remains entitled to his constitutional rights until a competent court determines otherwise.
The ICPC, however, has maintained that El-Rufai’s detention is based on valid court orders and that the agency is acting within the law. The commission has also denied allegations that it is deliberately holding him beyond the limits permitted by the courts.
El-Rufai has challenged his continued detention in court, while proceedings on related cases remain ongoing. The legal developments have continued to attract political attention, with supporters calling for his release and authorities insisting that due process must take its course.
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