El-Rufai Now Political Prisoner — Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Former presidential adviser, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has criticised the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing him as a political prisoner and raising concerns over adherence to the rule of law.

Baba-Ahmed made the remarks in a post on his verified X account, where he argued that El-Rufai’s prolonged detention had gone beyond a legal matter and was beginning to attract wider public attention.

According to him, the insistence on keeping the former governor in custody without a trial or conviction was eroding confidence in Nigeria’s justice system and creating the impression that due process was being ignored.

He stated that the development was making a mockery of the rule of law and accepted standards of fairness, insisting that El-Rufai should not be deprived of his liberty without the legal process being concluded.

“Nasir El-Rufai’s saga is assuming a character far bigger than the determined insistence by the state that he must remain locked up, without being tried and or sentenced,” Baba-Ahmed wrote.

He added that the situation had reached a point where the former governor could now be regarded as a political prisoner because of the circumstances surrounding his continued detention.

The former presidential aide maintained that respect for the rule of law remains fundamental to democratic governance and urged authorities to ensure that justice is administered in line with constitutional provisions.

His comments come amid growing reactions from political associates and members of El-Rufai’s family over the former governor’s detention.

Earlier, El-Rufai’s first wife, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, appealed to the Federal Government to ensure fairness in the handling of her husband’s case.

She argued that the family had remained loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress during the 2023 general elections and did not deserve the treatment they were receiving.

The remarks have added to public debate over the former Kaduna governor’s legal situation, with calls from some quarters for due process to be followed while legal proceedings continue.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government had not officially responded to Baba-Ahmed’s latest comments.