Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former presidential aide, has labeled the ongoing incarceration of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai as a case of political imprisonment. Through a statement on X, Baba-Ahmed suggested that the circumstances of the detention have surpassed the government’s initial objective of keeping the former official behind bars without formal charges or a conviction.
Baba-Ahmed asserted that this situation is actively eroding trust in the judicial system and violating basic principles of fairness. He noted that the continued confinement without legal proceedings serves as a poor example regarding the state’s commitment to the rule of law. By failing to provide a trial, the authorities are casting doubt on the integrity of the legal process.
These remarks follow public appeals from the El-Rufai family, who have addressed the Tinubu administration regarding their dissatisfaction with the current treatment. Hajiya Asiya, the former governor’s first wife, recently emphasized the family’s contributions to the APC’s success during the 2023 elections and argued that the ongoing detention is inherently unjust.
