Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and African Democratic Congress chieftain Dele Momodu have renewed calls for the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who has been in custody since February.
Obi, through his media aide, Idris Zekeri, said on Saturday that any allegations against El-Rufai should be determined through due process rather than prolonged detention.
Zekeri said Obi had consistently spoken against the former governor’s continued detention, stressing that no Nigerian should be held for an extended period without the case being properly addressed.
Momodu, speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, also criticised El-Rufai’s continued detention and described him as a “prisoner of conscience.”
He said El-Rufai’s appointment as Deputy Chairman of the African Democratic Congress’ 2027 presidential campaign council was a way of recognising what he described as the former governor’s political sacrifice.
El-Rufai is facing separate legal proceedings. The ICPC has maintained that his detention is authorised by court orders and that it is conducting investigations in line with the law.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 26 to rule on El-Rufai’s no-case submission in a case over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
His fundamental rights suit against the ICPC, Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General of the Federation is also pending before the court.
The renewed calls come amid growing political attention to El-Rufai’s detention following his appointment to the ADC campaign council.
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