Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called for the release of the ex-governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other political detainees in the country.
Atiku, who made the call in a post on his official X handle on Monday, submitted that no one should be detained simply because they do not share the same ideology or political platform with the government of the day.
He said: “I wish to serve notice to the authorities detaining former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and all other political detainees to release them henceforth. No one should be detained simply because they do not share the same ideology or political platform with the government of the day.”
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, however, expressed delight over the release of the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Recall that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) recently told a High Court in Abuja, that it was detaining the former governor El-Rufai to conclude an investigation into alleged corruption during his tenure of office in Kaduna State.
El-Rufai had filed a suit at the court, claiming damages to the tune of N1 billion for rights violation after his arrest and detention by the ICPC.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, El-Rufai refused to answer questions about the corruption allegations, describing the investigation as politically motivated.
However, the ICPC in a counter-affidavit explained that his arrest and detention follow a petition it received accusing him and some officials of his administration of financial misconduct between 2015 and 2023.
The petition dated 26 February raised allegations relating to loans obtained by the Kaduna State Government, procurement processes, transfers from government accounts and payments to companies and individuals.
