ADC’s Owokoniran Queries Ex-Gov El-Rufai’s Continued Detention, Demands His Immediate Release
A leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West and Convener of the Frontliners Movement in Lagos State, Hon. Rahman Owokoniran, has strongly questioned the continued detention of former Kaduna State’s Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing the situation as a serious blemish on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s acclaimed commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law.
Owokoniran said Nigerians could not ignore the political circumstances surrounding El-Rufai’s detention.
He said: “Let us be honest. Malam El-Rufai was a prominent member of the APC. He left the ruling party, joined the ADC and subsequently became openly critical of the administration. Today, he remains in prolonged detention while facing allegations for which he has not been convicted.
“That coincidence naturally raises serious questions in the minds of Nigerians.”
Owokoniran stressed that fighting corruption was legitimate, but corruption allegations must never become a tool for political persecution.
“If the government has evidence against El-Rufai, let it present that evidence before the court. Let the trial proceed and let justice be done. But keeping a man in detention for months before conviction creates the dangerous impression that the process itself has become the punishment,” the former Lagos State Commissioner said.
Owokoniran also questioned the continued reliance on stringent bail conditions.
“Bail is not acquittal,” he said. “Releasing El-Rufai under reasonable conditions will not stop the government from prosecuting its case. If he is found guilty, he will face the consequences of the law. But if he has not been convicted, why should detention become his punishment?”
He challenged the Tinubu administration to demonstrate that political differences had no bearing on the matter.
Owokoniran said: “President Tinubu has repeatedly spoken about democracy, justice and the rule of law. This is an opportunity to demonstrate those principles. Nigerians are watching. The government must show that leaving the APC and disagreeing with the President does not make a Nigerian a target of state power.”
The ADC chieftain further warned that the former Governor’s continued detention could damage public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption campaign.
“You cannot preach justice while people begin to believe that the machinery of government is being used against political opponents. The fight against corruption must be above politics. Otherwise, the credibility of the entire process suffers,” he said.
He called for El-Rufai to be allowed to face his trial under reasonable conditions and return to his family while the judicial process continued.
“Let El-Rufai go home and face his trial. If the court eventually finds him guilty, let him face the law. But until that happens, he remains presumed innocent. Nigeria must not allow political disagreements to turn into punishment before judgment,” he said.
“This is bigger than El-Rufai. It is about the Nigeria we are building. Today it may be El-Rufai; tomorrow it could be somebody else. Justice must remain justice, whether the accused is a friend, an opponent or a former member of the ruling party.”
