The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over the handling of ongoing legal proceedings involving two of its prominent members, Abubakar Malami and Nasir el-Rufai, stressing that the rule of law must not be enforced selectively.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC has been closely observing developments in the cases concerning Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State.
Both party figures have recently faced legal scrutiny over criminal allegations, resulting in periods of detention in Abuja.
Last Friday, Malami, alongside his wife, Asabe Bashir, and son, Abdulaziz, was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 16-count charge involving conspiracy, procurement, concealment and laundering of alleged unlawful proceeds amounting to N8,713,923,759.49.
The trio pleaded not guilty. However, the court ordered their remand pending the hearing of their bail applications. Malami and his son were directed to be held at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, while Asabe was remanded at Suleja Correctional Centre in Niger State due to the availability of facilities for female inmates. The matter was adjourned until 6 March.
El-Rufai, on his part, has been under investigation since 13 February 2026 after revealing during an Arise TV interview that he had phone-tapped Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, and overheard a conversation in which Ribadu allegedly “ordered” his arrest.
Although he admitted that the act was unlawful, el-Rufai alleged that such practices are routinely carried out by government agencies without judicial authorisation.
He was subsequently taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS) after spending two nights at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On 18 February, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed he was in its custody over ongoing investigations, while its operatives later searched his Abuja residence.
‘LAW MUST BE APPLIED EVENLY’
Responding to the developments, Abdullahi cautioned that in a constitutional democracy, legal processes must be applied consistently, transparently and without political bias.
“It is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law,” the statement reads.
“However, where the law is seen to operate selectively, it becomes imperative to insist that justice must be applied evenly.”
He expressed concern over what he described as rapid custodial transfers between agencies while investigations remain ongoing, arguing that such movements raise legitimate questions about fairness and due process.
According to him, detention should follow properly framed charges and not precede them in a manner that suggests pre-trial punishment.
“If there is evidence against Abubakar Malami, prosecute him transparently. If there is evidence against Nasir El-Rufai, present it before the court and allow the law to take its course,” Abdullahi said.
“But Nigerians will not accept a situation where coercive instruments of the federal government are perceived to move with unusual speed against opposition figures, while similar matters elsewhere travel at a gentler pace.”
He also referred to a recent high-profile case involving allegations of passport forgery, international conspiracy and impersonation, noting that those defendants were granted bail and are currently facing trial.
Reaffirming the party’s stance, Abdullahi maintained that Malami and el-Rufai remain presumed innocent under the constitution until proven guilty by a competent court.
He added that the ADC would continue to support its members in asserting their legal rights and called on relevant authorities to clarify publicly the status and progress of the investigations.
The party further demanded strict compliance with constitutional safeguards against arbitrary or prolonged detention, timely and transparent prosecution of any charges backed by credible evidence, and equal enforcement of the law irrespective of political affiliation.
“In moments such as this, nations define themselves,” he said, adding that Nigeria must be grounded in equal application of the law rather than governed by executive discretion.