Atiku Abubakar Demands Clarity on Nasir El-Rufai Detention, Warns of Selective Prosecution
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed serious concern over the ongoing detention of ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, urging the Federal Government to clarify both his whereabouts and his medical condition immediately.
Atiku, in a statement released on Tuesday, told PulseNets that El-Rufai’s welfare has become a pressing issue for his family, friends, and close associates. He learnt that uncertainty surrounding the former governor’s status is causing anxiety among those concerned for his health.
The ex-VP called on the Nigerian government to specify which agency is overseeing El-Rufai’s detention, asking whether it is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS), or any other security outfit.
“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 said, emphasising that secrecy in such matters only fuels suspicion and erodes public trust.
He reported that any agency responsible for the former governor has a constitutional obligation to safeguard his health, preserve his dignity, and ensure that he has access to medical care, family members, and legal counsel.
PulseNets learnt that Atiku described as “deeply troubling” the reports that El-Rufai suffered a nosebleed in custody while family members were allegedly denied access. “Reports that he suffered a nosebleed while family members were allegedly denied access are deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democracy,” he told PulseNets.
He added that if authorities cannot guarantee El-Rufai’s wellbeing and fundamental rights, the lawful step would be to grant him bail immediately. “If anything happens to El-Rufai, this government will be held accountable,” he warned.
Beyond the immediate welfare concerns, Atiku also spoke to PulseNets about what he termed a growing perception of selective prosecution, claiming that opposition figures are aggressively targeted while others enjoy protection from scrutiny.
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“The continued detention of El-Rufai under unclear circumstances raises serious questions about motive. Anti-corruption cannot be credible when it appears 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,” he told PulseNets.
Atiku stressed that anti-corruption measures must never be wielded as political weapons, insisting that accountability efforts be transparent, fair, and free from political influence.
