El-Rufai: Release him or file charges — Datti-Ahmed warns FG

2026-03-08 - 17:27

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — The Coalition Political Action Committee (COPAC), led by Aminu Datti-Ahmed, on Sunday warned the Federal Government to either release former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai immediately or file formal charges against him, saying keeping him in custody beyond the expired remand order would violate the Constitution. The warning comes as debate grows over El-Rufai’s continued detention after the 14-day remand order earlier obtained by investigators ran out. According to the group, that court order was granted only to allow investigators complete their work within a clearly defined period. Now that the window has closed, authorities must either take the matter to court or release the detainee, it said. “This is not about El-Rufai. This is about the law being a level playing field. The rule of law must never become a selective weapon used against those who fall out of favour with those who hold power. “The 14-day remand order obtained by investigators in the case involving El-Rufai has expired. That order was granted for a specific and limited purpose: to allow investigators complete their work within a defined constitutional window. It was not granted as a licence for indefinite detention, procedural manipulation, or political theatre,” the group said. Datti-Ahmed also urged prominent opposition leaders; including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, to speak out against what it described as attempts to intimidate opposition figures. “COPAC therefore calls directly on leading opposition figures including Atiku, Peter Obi, Tambuwal, Amaechi, and Kwankwaso, along with all leaders who claim to stand for democratic accountability, to speak out immediately against any attempt to harass, intimidate or clampdown on the opposition. “Under Section 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the liberty of every citizen is protected by law. Investigative detention is strictly temporary and must lead, within a reasonable time, to either formal charges before a competent court or the immediate release of the detainee. “The Federal Government must therefore understand that it must now do one of two things in the case involving El-Rufai: file formal charges before a court or release the detainee immediately. “Anything outside these clearly defined legal options would amount to acting illegally and unconstitutionally, and would render the continued detention an abuse of state power and a violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen. “Such conduct would also run contrary to Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights law, including Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention and require that any deprivation of liberty be strictly governed by law and subject to judicial oversight,” the group added. Beyond the immediate case, Datti-Ahmed said the situation raises broader concerns about how state institutions are used in political disputes. “Make no mistake, the danger of this moment cannot be overstated. Nigeria is witnessing a disturbing pattern in which state institutions are willing to deploy investigative powers against political actors in a manner that raises legitimate questions about selectivity, timing, and motive. “This is why silence from other opposition leaders at this moment is both dangerous and irresponsible,” the group stated. Reiterating its position, Datti-Ahmed said the authorities must act strictly within the law. “We therefore states clearly: if the government has evidence, it should file charges. If it does not, it must release the detainee. “The law is not optional. The Constitution is not a suggestion. And the Nigerian people will not remain silent if the guarantees of liberty written into our Constitution are treated as expendable. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a police state,” the group said.