El-Rufai marks 256 days in detention, demands fair trial

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has marked 256 days in detention, reaffirming his demand for a fair trial. In a statement on his official X account, El-Rufai emphasized that a fair trial is a fundamental human right and not a privilege or favor. Since February 16, 2026, El-Rufai has been in custody following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial mismanagement during his administration in Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

He was transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigations.

The allegations have been based on a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly concerning the management of ₦423 billion to ₦432 billion during El-Rufai's eight-year tenure. El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In addition to the EFCC case, he is also facing a separate legal proceeding by the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. These charges reportedly stemmed from comments El-Rufai made during a television interview.

Despite being granted bail in some of the cases, stringent conditions have hindered his release. He was briefly released in March to attend his mother's burial and has faced further legal proceedings in the wiretapping case. A Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed his no-case submission and ordered him to enter his defense, with further proceedings expected to continue.

Supporters have questioned the circumstances of his prolonged detention and called for respect for his fundamental rights. However, authorities argue that the cases are ongoing investigations into corruption and national security offenses.