Former presidential candidate and African Democratic Congress leader Peter Obi has condemned the ongoing detention of former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, describing it as “worrisome” and accusing the Tinubu administration of using criminal prosecution as a political tool against opposition figures.
Obi expressed his concerns in a statement on X on Monday, urging the government to “immediately end” what he called the persecution of political opponents disguised as legitimate legal action.
He emphasized, “The current administration must put an end to the blatant persecution of political opponents disguised as criminal prosecution. The integrity of the rule of law in Nigeria is non-negotiable; its degradation undermines our economic development and threatens national stability.”
The former Anambra governor highlighted the timing of the arrests of both El-Rufai and Malami, noting that their detentions coincided with their commitment to ensure the current administration is voted out in 2027, raising “serious and troubling questions about the motivations behind their prosecution.”
Obi also criticized the conditions of their detention, stating that “the undue denial of bail or unjustly stringent conditions imposed on bail leave little doubt that the government is wielding criminal prosecution as a weapon against its political opponents.”
He reserved particular criticism for El-Rufai’s case, describing the repeated transfers between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Department of State Services as a desperate and legally questionable attempt. He said, “The situation surrounding Malam El-Rufai is particularly concerning; his repeated transfers between the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS suggest a desperate search for any charge that might stick, straying dangerously close to a fishing expedition rather than a credible investigation.”
While affirming his commitment to fighting corruption, Obi stressed that anti-corruption efforts must be fair and consistent. “I wholeheartedly support the fight against corruption and wrongdoing, but it must be conducted with integrity and transparency, starting with those currently in power rather than targeting opponents. A credible anti-corruption and anti-wrongdoing campaign cannot afford to be selective,” he said.
Obi concluded by urging the government to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no Nigerian is persecuted for their political beliefs or actions, especially as the country approaches a critical election period.
