By Achile Danjuma
Following the release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, a growing number of netizens have alleged that his detention was politically motivated and aimed at humiliation rather than justice. The former governor was released hours after the news of his mother’s death broke, prompting accusations of undue hardship from several public commentators.
Among those speaking out are Barrister Abba Hikima, Stanley Chinonso, and Imran U Wakili, who took to social media to question the timing and rationale behind the release.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Imran U Wakili argued that the former governor’s detention was never about criminal allegations but was intended to degrade him. He noted that El-Rufai was held throughout the 30 days of Ramadan and was not permitted to bid farewell to his late mother while in custody.
“The sudden release of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai shows that they were only keeping him to humiliate him, not because he committed any crime,” Wakili wrote. He added that while the release—coming in time for the funeral—suggests “a little conscience” on the part of authorities, it also underscores what he described as unjust treatment.
Echoing similar sentiments, Stanley Chinonso described the former governor’s detention as politically driven. “This simply shows the federal government does not have any case against him; they are just trying to hold him down because they felt he’s a threat to them. For Tinubu, he has just saved face because he would have lost the case in court. We are watching,” Stanley wrote.
Barrister Abba Hikima offered a legal perspective, pointing to the absence of formal judicial proceedings that would typically precede a release. He noted that El-Rufai was neither granted bail by the court nor had his bail conditions reviewed—standard legal pathways to release.
“Well, none of that has happened. And Nasir El-Rufa’i has been released. Does this show there was cruelty and violation in refusal to release him from the beginning?” Hikima posted.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu have all extended condolences to El-Rufai over the passing of his mother. The messages, shared publicly, have drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some users dismissing them as indicative of a closed political circle.
El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count charge related to alleged conversion of public property and money laundering. He appeared before a Federal High Court in Kaduna, which had adjourned his bail application until March 31.
The former governor was released shortly after news broke of his mother’s death in Cairo, Egypt. He has consistently denied all allegations against him.