Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government to secure the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, describing his continued detention as “cruel, unjustifiable and deeply troubling.”

Atiku, in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said El-Rufai’s detention violated civil liberties, democratic principles and the rule of law.

The former vice president, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, warned against the use of state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents, describing the former governor’s continued detention as politically provocative and inconsistent with democratic values.

“At a time when millions of Muslims across Nigeria and around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir — a sacred season of sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness and family reunion — it would be unconscionable for any government to weaponise state power in a manner that denies a citizen his liberty without just cause,” Atiku said.

He added that Eid-el-Kabir symbolises mercy, reconciliation and humanity, stressing that there was no justification for keeping El-Rufai away from his family during the religious celebration, particularly where due process had not been clearly established.

“I therefore call for the immediate release of Mallam El-Rufai and urge all relevant authorities to rise above political bitterness and act in the interest of justice, peace and national cohesion,” he stated.

Atiku further urged the Federal Government and Kaduna State authorities to uphold democratic standards by ensuring fairness in the treatment of perceived opponents, warning that selective justice could erode public confidence in the rule of law.

According to him, if El-Rufai’s detention is based on an ongoing legal process, authorities owe Nigerians transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding the case.

“Mallam El-Rufai, regardless of political differences or shifting alliances, remains a Nigerian citizen entitled to the full protection of the Constitution, including his rights to dignity, liberty and due process,” he said.

“Democracy does not grant the government the licence to punish dissent, settle political scores or deploy coercive institutions as instruments of intimidation. The credibility of any democracy is measured not by how it treats loyalists, but by how it treats perceived opponents.”

The call for El-Rufai’s release comes a week after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission announced that a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna granted the former governor access to medical treatment while in custody.

The ruling followed an application by defence counsel during proceedings in the ongoing trial involving allegations of money laundering and corruption-related offences.

El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.