Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections. Peter Obi has condemned the detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ex-Attorney General Abubakar Malami.
He described their ordeal as “worrisome” and an example of the government using criminal prosecution as a weapon against opposition figures.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, Obi called on the government to immediately end the persecution of political opponents disguised as legitimate legal action.
He specifically criticized the handling of El-Rufai’s case, citing repeated transfers between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) as a “desperate and legally dubious exercise”.
Obi emphasized that the timing of the detention, coming as both men were committed to ensuring the current administration is voted out in 2027, raises serious questions about the motivations behind their prosecution. He also highlighted concerns over the conditions of their detention, including denial of bail or stringent bail conditions
“The current administration must put an end to the blatant persecution of political opponents disguised as criminal prosecution. The integrity of the rule of law in Nigeria is non-negotiable; its degradation undermines our economic development and threatens national stability,” he stated.
“The undue denial of bail or unjustly stringent conditions imposed on bail leave little doubt that the government is wielding criminal prosecution as a weapon against its political opponents”.
“The situation surrounding Malam El-Rufai is particularly concerning; his repeated transfers between the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS suggest a desperate search for any charge that might stick, straying dangerously close to a fishing expedition rather than a credible investigation,” he said.
“I wholeheartedly support the fight against corruption and wrongdoing, but it must be conducted with integrity and transparency, starting with those currently in power rather than targeting opponents. A credible anti-corruption and anti-wrongdoing campaign cannot afford to be selective,” he stated.
Obi concluded by calling on the government to uphold the rule of law and guarantee that no Nigerian would be persecuted for their political beliefs or actions as the country approaches what he described as a critical election period.
The detention of El-Rufai and Malami has sparked concerns among opposition groups, with some describing it as a pattern of injustice and an abuse of state power.
