The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has described the detention and trial of Nasir el-Rufai as “political persecution”.
Speaking in Kaduna at a stakeholders’ meeting of the African Democratic Congress, Obi said el-Rufai was being treated like a fugitive despite willingly returning to Nigeria from Egypt.
The former Anambra State governor emphasised that the law requires that individuals accused of crimes be treated with dignity until proven guilty.
“It is political persecution. We have a law, and that law allows for people to be treated with dignity until they are found guilty. Let our law prevail,” Obi said.
“How do you tell somebody you’re inviting him, and he came back voluntarily to the country, and you’re treating him like somebody who was running away.
“Let the law run its course. I have said it. I’ve written about it, and I continue to say so.”
Obi and el-Rufai recently defected to the African Democratic Congress as part of a growing coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election. Notably, el-Rufai had been one of Obi’s most vocal critics during the 2023 polls.
Background to the arrest
On February 12, a mild standoff occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport when security operatives attempted to arrest el-Rufai upon his arrival from Cairo.
According to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor declined to accompany the operatives due to the absence of a formal invitation.
On February 16, el-Rufai voluntarily presented himself at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He was later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on February 19 after his release by the EFCC.
A magistrate court extended his remand by an additional 14 days on March 5, prompting growing calls for either his release or formal arraignment.
El-Rufai subsequently filed a fundamental rights suit at the federal high court in Abuja, challenging the search of his residence by the ICPC and the remand order issued against him. The suit lists the ICPC, the presiding magistrate, the inspector-general of police, and the attorney-general of the federation as respondents.
On Tuesday morning, el-Rufai appeared before the federal high court in Kaduna for his arraignment.