MUSLIM RIGHTS
CONCERN (MURIC)
هيئة حقوق المسلمين
Motto: Dialogue,
Not Violence
23rd April, 2026
PRESS RELEASE:
EL-RUFAI: LONG ADJOURNMENT LENDS CREDENCE TO OPPOSITION CLAIM OF
POLITICAL MOTIVATION – MURIC
The case involving former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai, was on Tuesday adjourned till the first week of June, 2026.
Commenting on the development, an Islamic human rights
organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said the long adjournment lends
credence to opposition claim of political motivation.
This was the crux of a statement circulated to newsmen on
Thursday, 23rd April, 2026 by the Executive Director of the human
rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads:
"The case involving former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam
Nasir El-Rufai, came up before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High
Court on Tuesday, 21st April, 2026. However, the learned judge
adjourned the bail hearing to the first week of June, 2026 (https://www-channelstv-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.channelstv.com/2026/04/21/court-adjourns-el-rufais-bail-application-to-june/).
"While
we respect pronouncements made in the temple of justice and we believe that the
law must be allowed to follow its due process, the long adjournment of
El-Rufai's case in a bailable offence lends credence to opposition claim of
political motivation.
“Neither does the cassu belli put forward by the learned
judge hold any water. According to NaijaNews, Justice Darius Khobo held
that ‘it was in the interest of justice for the defendant to remain in custody to ensure his
availability for trial’ (https://www.naijanews.com/2026/04/23/el-rufai-bail-denied/#google_vignette).
“It
is on record that El-Rufai willingly presented himself to the EFCC ab initio (https://independent.ng/el-rufai-honours-efcc-invitation/).
Not only that, he also went back voluntarily into custody from home without any
prompting at the end of his mother’s burial rites. There was no report of any
ICPC raid on his house before he went back. (vanguardngr.com/2026/03/el-rufai-back-in-icpc-custody-after-mothers-burial/).
“Above
all, it will also be recalled that El-Rufai was outside the country when EFCC
invited him. Instead of remaining there to seek political asylum, he elected to
return home to face the charges and he notified EFCC of the date he would
report. Besides, he has no past record of jumping bail. So why is he being kept
in custody? (https://businessday.ng/news/article/el-rufai-to-return-to-nigeria-notify-efcc-of-monday-appearance/).
"Concerning the duration of his detention, it will be
recalled that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai willingly reported himself at the office of
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 16th February,
2026. He was transferred to the office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) three days later to face multiple
charges.
"El-Rufai has therefore been in detention since Monday, 16th
February, 2026 and he had already spent approximately two months (if the number
of days he spent burying his mother is removed) by 21st April, 2026
when the learned judge denied him bail.
"By implication, El-Rufai would have spent approximately
three and a half months by the time the bail application comes up again in the
first week of June 2026.
"Politicians
facing corruption charges in Nigeria often spend between a few days to several
weeks in ICPC detention. But that of the former governor of Kaduna is now
drifting into months. El-Rufai is therefore being projected as probably the
longest serving detained politician going by his expected stay in custody until
the first week in June, 2026.
"The question being
raised in the opposition camp is what else constitutes political witch-hunt if
this does not?
"We reiterate our commitment to justice running its due
course but we should not be given the impression that some people can be
forgotten behind bars. Democracy loses its essence where the wheels of justice
are forced to run at snail speed or where they totally grind to a halt. Justice
delayed is justice denied. Let El-Rufai go."
#El-Rufai #BailableOffence #ICPC
#ExpediteTrial #JusticeDelayed #JusticeDenied
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Founder/Executive
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC).
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