Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has restated his demand for justice, drawing attention to the 256 days he has spent in detention and calling for due process in the handling of his cases.
The former governor raised the issue in a Friday update published on his official X handle, arguing that access to a fair trial should be guaranteed by law and not treated as a special consideration.
He wrote: “El-Rufai Detention Update. Today Exactly 256 days @elrufai in Detention. A Human Right, Not a Favor. A fair trial is not an act of mercy. It is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right.”
El-Rufai’s detention began on February 16, 2026, when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission took him into custody over alleged financial misconduct associated with his time as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023.
The investigation followed concerns raised by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in a report examining the administration’s handling of public funds put at about ₦423 billion to ₦432 billion.
Following his time with the EFCC, El-Rufai was moved to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as inquiries into the allegations and related court cases progressed.
He is also standing trial in a separate matter filed by the Department of State Services concerning the alleged illegal interception of telephone communications linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The case is reportedly connected to remarks he made during a television interview. El-Rufai has denied the accusations, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Despite securing bail in some of the proceedings, he remains behind bars, with the conditions set by the courts reportedly yet to be met.
He was, however, granted temporary release in March to attend his mother’s funeral on compassionate grounds before being returned to custody.
In the case involving alleged phone interception, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently turned down his no-case submission, requiring him to present his defence as the proceedings continue.
His continued stay in detention has drawn public attention, with political allies and opposition voices expressing concerns over his situation and demanding that his rights be protected.
Authorities, on their part, have maintained that the allegations involve serious matters, including suspected corruption and national security-related offences, which remain before the relevant institutions and courts.
