By Suleiman Anyalewechi
An advocacy group, the Coalition of Political Action Committee COPAC, has condemned the continued detention without trial of former Governor of Kaduna state Malam Nasir El-Rufai by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
This is as the group urged the Federal Government and its agencies to either file charges against El-Rufai or set him free if they don’t have anything against him.
The Source reports that El-Rufai, a prominent figure within the opposition Coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC has been in custody since February 16, 2026 when he voluntarily honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC.
He has been in the custody of the ICPC since Wednesday February 18, when he was granted bail by the EFCC.
The former Kaduna State Governor is being investigated by multiple agencies including the Department of State Service, DSS, over alleged corruption practices, including money laundering and diversion of public funds ,as well as security related issues.
However, his continued detention by the ICPC after the expiry of a 14-day remand order from Gwari Abuja Magistrate court on Friday, March 6, 2026 has continued to elicit widespread indignation and condemnation from across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, March 8, 2026, by its Convener, Aminu Datti Ahmed, the COPAC warned that keeping El-Rufai in detention beyond the expired remand order is tantamount to a gross violation of his fundamental human rights ,as well as a direct affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the civil society group, the court order was only granted to allow the anti-corruption Commission the chance to conclude its investigations, within a clearly stipulated time frame.
“Now that the window has closed, the authorities must either take the matter to court or release the detainee.
“This is not about El-Rufai. This is about the law being a level playing field. The rule of law must never become a selective weapon used against those who fall out of favour with those who hold power.
“The 14-day remand order obtained by investigators in the case involving El-Rufai has expired. That order was granted for a specific and limited purpose: to allow investigators complete their work within a defined constitutional window.
” It was not granted as a license for indefinite detention, procedural manipulation, or political theatre”, COPAC warned.
This is as the group called on prominent opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar ,Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Tambuwal and others to speak out against what it described as emerging pattern of official intimidation and harassment of dissenting voices by the Federal Government and its agencies.
It urged the Federal Government to be mindful of the rights of the citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution.
” The Federal Government must understand, therefore, that it must now do one of two things in the case of involving El-Rufai: file formal charges before a court, or release the detainee immediately.
“Anything outside these clearly defined legal options would amount to acting illegally and unconstitutionally,,and would render the continued detention an abuse of state power and a violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen”, the group added.
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