By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed serious concern over the politicization of the trial and detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, by the authorities.
Abubakar, who is the 2027 Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, described the continued detention of El-Rufai as well as the refusal of the Court to review the bail conditions granted to him as totally unacceptable.
El-Rufai who is facing multiple inter-agency prosecutions over charges bordering on alleged diversion of public funds , inflation of Severance packages ,and breach of national security, has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC since February 18, 2026, when he was granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The former Governor of Kaduna State, however, despite being granted bail by multiple courts where he is currently being prosecuted by the ICPC and the Department of State Service, DSS, between April and May, has remained in custody owing to the tough conditions attached to the bail granted him by an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Honourable Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik.
At the resumed hearing of the case filed by the DSS against El-Rufai over alleged wire-tapping of the telephone number of the National Security Adviser NSA on Tuesday, Justice Abdul-Malik rejected pleas for the variation of the bail conditions granted the former Kaduna State Governor.
El-Rufai’s defence team led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, had, in an oral application urged the court to review certain conditions of the bail, particularly those requiring a Level 17 Civil Servant with properties in Maitama or Asokoro Districts of Abuja as one of the sureties, as well as an attestation letter from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Rulers Council .
According to him, the conditions appear practically untenable ,and impossible in the present circumstances.
The former Vice President, while reacting on Wednesday , June 24, 2026, described the stance of the court as deeply troubling ,and a source of serious concern about the State of constitutional liberties,the administration of justice, and the growing tendency to weaponise legal processes against political rivals.
According to Atiku, while it is true that courts reserve the discretions to grant bail and impose conditions ,he insisted that the exercise of such power must be done judicially ,and judiciously.
He emphasized that attaching stringent conditions, which are obviously, and manifestly high-handed, unreasonable, and or practically impossible to fulfill, remains counterproductive ,and certainly defeat the very essence of the bail granted.
The ADC presidential candidate also warned that unrealistic and harsh bail conditions are in themselves antithetical to the popular dictum ,to the effect that an accused person remain innocent until proven guilty.
He emphasized that bail exit in legal proceedings as a veritable way of preserving the refrain that accused persons remain innocent until find guilty.
“When a court insists on conditions that require a defendant to produce a serving Grade Level 17 Federal Civil Servant who must also own verifiable property in Maitama or Asokoro, and satisfy a maze of additional requirements., Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: is the objective to grant bail or to ensure that bail remains unattainable?
“This is not merely about one individual . It is about the principles that underpin a democratic society governed by the rule of law.
“Today it is El-Rufai . Tomorrow it could be any citizen whose liberty depends not on the law ,but on whether he can satisfy conditions that few Nigerians can ever meet” Abubakar stated.
The former Vice president, lamented the increasing tendency of the judicial arm of Government to abdicate its constitutional responsibilities ,and pander to the whims and caprices of those in position of authority.
He noted that as a critical institution for the sustenance ,and promotion of democracies all over the world, the judiciary should not only be perceived as a sacred altar of justice, but be able through its conduct inspire public confidence in the administration of justice.
Abubakar warned that no democracy can thrive in a situation where citizens are constantly suspicious that the legal processes are being directly and or remotely manipulated ,and deployed for the persecution citizens, especially the opposition voices.
“At a time when public trust in institutions is under unprecedented strain ,the Judiciary must be careful not to create the impression that justice is available only in theory but unreachable in practice .
“Bail Conditions should secure attendance in court ,not guaranteed continued incarceration” the ADC presidential candidate added.
He cautioned against the tendency to misconstrue his intervention to mean an obstruction of the cause of justice.
According to him, his concern ,just like any other patriotic Nigerian, is whether constitutional safeguards are being faithfully observed in the process of the administration of justice .
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