ARRAIGN EL-RUFAI OR SET HIM FREE – MURIC

A rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the prolonged detention of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai by the Nigerian security agencies. The group demanded his release or immediate arraignment in court.
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‎MURIC’s intervention came via a press release issued on Wednesday, 25th February, 2026 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
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‎The full text of the press release reads:
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‎”Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been in detention since his voluntary report at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja on Monday, 16th February, 2026. Although EFCC released him on Wednesday, 18th February, he was picked up by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)same day.
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‎”Reports coming from the media indicate that his absence in court today, Wednesday, 25th February, 2026 is accountable for the inability to arraign him today.
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‎”There appears to be a deliberate attempt to keep El-Rufai in detention ad infinitum. A man who is in detention cannot be blamed for ‘absence in court’ because he does not control his movement.
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*‎”MURIC demands the immediate arraignment of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in a court of competent jurisdiction. The law prescribes 48 hours only as the maximum period an accused can be held in detention and within which he must be produced in court.*
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*‎”Global best practices attest to the fact that a man is believed to be innocent until otherwise proven guilty. Interestingly, the law does not arrogate the power to declare citizens guilty to the security agencies. That power belongs incontestibly to the law courts. We therefore call for the release of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai or his arraignment in court.*
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‎”We also call on the Federal Government to abide by democratic norms whose principles include respect for the rule of law, freedom of movement and free speech, all of which are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution (Sections 41 & 39 respectively).
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‎”Nigeria cannot afford to put unpleasant political optics on ground at a time when the world is focusing on it.  Former Sokoto governor, Waziri Tambuwal, former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN and now El-Rufai, all members of the opposition. We hope we are communicating.
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‎”It is time to arraign El-Rufai or set him free.”
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‎#Elrufai
‎#ArraignElrufai
‎#FreeElrufai
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‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,
‎Founder/Executive Director,
‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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