Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has renewed his demand for a fair trial, marking 256 days in detention and insisting that his fundamental rights must be respected in accordance with the law.
El-Rufai made the call in a statement shared on his official X account on Friday, describing the right to a fair trial as a fundamental human right that should not be treated as a privilege or an act of favour.
In the statement, the former governor said a fair trial was not an act of mercy but a constitutional right that must be guaranteed to every individual, regardless of status or position.
El-Rufai has remained in custody since February 16, 2026, following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of financial mismanagement during his administration in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The allegations followed a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which raised concerns over the management of funds estimated at between 423 and 432 billion naira during his eight-year tenure.
He was subsequently transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission as investigations and legal proceedings into the allegations continued.
The former governor is also facing a separate criminal case instituted by the Department of State Services over allegations of unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charges reportedly followed comments made by El-Rufai during a television interview, in which he allegedly admitted to being aware of the interception of the NSA’s telephone communications.
He has, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Although courts have granted him bail in some of the cases, the stringent conditions attached to the decisions have reportedly delayed his release from custody.
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El-Rufai was briefly released in March on compassionate grounds to attend the burial of his mother but subsequently returned to detention.
In the alleged wiretapping case, a Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed his no-case submission and directed him to enter his defence, as proceedings in the matter continue.
His prolonged detention has continued to attract reactions from supporters and opposition figures, some of whom have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding his continued custody and called for respect for his fundamental rights.
Meanwhile, the authorities maintain that the cases against the former governor involve allegations of corruption and offences relating to national security, which remain subject to ongoing judicial proceedings.
