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By John Ogunsemore
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the President Bola Tinubu administration will be held accountable if anything happens to former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The ex-VP stated this in a Tuesday statement following a claim by El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, that the ex-governor suffered a nosebleed in detention.
According to Atiku, the Tinubu-led Federal Government owes Nigerians clarity surrounding the continued detention of the ex-governor.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain maintained that El-Rufai’s health and welfare remains of grave concern to his family, friends and associates.
Atiku said the Federal Government must “state clearly which agency is holding him, whether the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the State Security Service (SSS), or any other arm of the security establishment”.
He noted that secrecy in matters of detention only fuels suspicion and Nigerians deserve transparency.
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Atiku stated, “Whichever agency is responsible has a constitutional duty to guarantee his safety, dignity, access to medical care, and access to his family and legal representatives.
“Reports that he suffered a nosebleed while family members were allegedly denied access are deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democracy.
“If the authorities cannot guarantee his health and fundamental rights, the lawful and humane course of action is to grant him bail without delay. If anything happens to El-Rufai, this government will be held accountable.”
Atiku argued that perception of political persecution of opponents by the Tinubu government keeps growing, noting that justice must be transparent.
He said, “More troubling, however, is the growing perception of selective prosecution, in which opposition figures are aggressively pursued while others are conspicuously shielded from investigation or interrogation. Anti-corruption must not become a political weapon.
“The continued detention of El-Rufai under unclear circumstances raises serious questions about motive. Anti-corruption cannot be credible when it appears partisan, coercive, or strategically timed.
“Justice must be transparent. Accountability must be even-handed. And the rule of law must apply to all; without fear, without favour, and without political bias.”
