Atiku Demands Transparency Over El-Rufai’s Detention

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Federal Government to clarify the circumstances surrounding the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Atiku expressed concern over reports of health complications and restricted access to family members and legal counsel.

In a statement released Tuesday, Atiku described the situation as troubling and urged the authorities to clearly identify which agency is holding El-Rufai. He questioned whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, the State Security Service, or another agency was responsible for his custody.

The former Vice President emphasized that secrecy in detention matters fuels suspicion and undermines public trust. He insisted that whichever agency is involved has a constitutional responsibility to ensure El-Rufai’s safety, dignity, and access to medical care and legal representation.

Reports by El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, alleged that the former governor experienced a nosebleed while in custody and was later transferred between agencies without prior notice to his family or legal team. These developments have intensified public debate over the case.

Atiku warned against the politicisation of anti-corruption efforts, stressing that justice must be transparent and even-handed. He stated that if authorities cannot guarantee El-Rufai’s health and rights, he should be granted bail in accordance with the rule of law.