Global Rights Group Raises Alarm Over El-Rufai Detention, Demands Court Appearance

Global Rights Group Raises Alarm Over El-Rufai Detention, Demands Court Appearance

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA March, 2026 -

An international civil rights organisation, the Democracy and Rights Observatory (DRO), has called for immediate legal clarity and global scrutiny over the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor, , warning that the case could test Nigeria’s commitment to due process and judicial independence.

In a statement released Sunday, the group said the sequence of investigations and detentions involving the former governor—by agencies including the and the —has raised questions about institutional coordination and adherence to legal safeguards. El-Rufai was first detained on February 16 after responding to an EFCC invitation over corruption allegations before being transferred to other federal authorities for further investigations.

The situation took another turn when the failed to produce him in court for his scheduled arraignment at the in Abuja, forcing the judge to adjourn proceedings to April 23. Prosecutors told the court the former governor remained in ICPC custody in connection with separate allegations of financial misappropriation.

DRO also noted that El-Rufai is facing charges linked to statements he allegedly made during a February interview on , which authorities say could violate provisions of Nigeria’s cybercrime and communications laws. The group warned that successive detentions by different agencies and the inability to present a detainee in court risk undermining confidence in the rule of law.

The organisation urged the Nigerian government to either formally charge the former governor before a competent court or release him in line with constitutional protections against arbitrary detention. It also called on international bodies—including the , and —as well as global rights groups to monitor the case to ensure adherence to legal standards and transparency.