The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has raised the alarm over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, calling on authorities to urgently review the situation and ensure that his fundamental rights are protected.
In a strongly worded statement, the council warned that any action perceived as arbitrary or politically motivated could damage public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system and democratic institutions.
The statement, signed by the SCSN Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad, was titled: “Urgent Call for Adherence to Rule of Law in the Continued Detention of Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i.”
The council said it did not support criminality but insisted that the process of prosecuting anyone accused of wrongdoing must itself be guided by the law.
It maintained that El-Rufai, like every other Nigerian, was entitled to his constitutional rights and remained presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
The SCSN’s intervention comes amid a prolonged legal battle that has kept the former governor in custody for months.
El-Rufai is facing criminal proceedings in Kaduna and Abuja, including allegations of abuse of office, fraud, irregular public contracts, money laundering and alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications.
In the separate Abuja case involving alleged phone interception, the Federal High Court granted him N100 million bail in May, but attached stringent conditions.
The conditions included a surety who must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17, reside in either Maitama or Asokoro and provide the original title document of a property in Abuja, among other requirements.
When El-Rufai later asked the Abuja court to relax the conditions, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected the application, ruling that the existing conditions were reasonable and intended to ensure his attendance at trial.
The development has left El-Rufai in custody despite having been granted bail in the Abuja case.
The SCSN expressed particular concern over the reported difficulty in meeting the bail requirements, warning that prolonged detention in such circumstances could raise questions about compliance with constitutional safeguards.
According to the council, Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy where due process, fair hearing and lawful detention must apply to everyone, regardless of political affiliation, status or personal disposition.
It urged the relevant authorities to operate strictly within the Constitution and extant laws and to ensure that every stage of El-Rufai’s case is handled transparently and fairly.
The council also warned against anything that could be interpreted as political persecution.
It said actions perceived as arbitrary or politically motivated could erode citizens’ confidence in state institutions and undermine the credibility of the justice system.
“Justice must not only be done but must be manifestly seen to be done,” the council stressed.
Meanwhile, proceedings in the Abuja phone-interception case have been adjourned until September 22, 2026, after the Department of State Services closed its case. El-Rufai’s legal team is expected to pursue a no-case submission.
The SCSN appealed to all parties to exercise restraint, insisting that justice, fairness and respect for the rule of law remained essential to Nigeria’s peace, unity and democratic stability.
