El-Rufai Marks 256 Days In Detention Says Fair Trial Not Act Of Mercy

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has renewed his call for a fair trial, insisting that access to justice is a fundamental human right as he marks 256 days in detention.

El-Rufai made the call in a statement posted on his official X account on Friday, stressing that a fair trial should not be treated as a favour or an act of mercy.

The statement, titled “El-Rufai Detention Update,” read, “Today Exactly 256 days @elrufai in Detention. A Human Right, Not a Favor. A fair trial is not an act of mercy. It is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right.”

The former governor has been in custody since February 16, 2026, when he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial mismanagement during his administration in Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

The allegations stemmed from a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which raised concerns about the management of funds estimated at between ₦423 billion and ₦432 billion during his eight-year tenure.

Following his arrest, El-Rufai was transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as investigations and legal proceedings over the allegations continued.

He is also facing a separate case instituted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The case reportedly followed remarks made by the former governor during a television interview. El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to the allegations against him.

Although courts have granted him bail in some of the cases, the conditions attached to the decisions have reportedly hindered his release from detention.

LEADERSHIP recalls that El-Rufai was briefly released in March on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial but subsequently returned to custody.

In the alleged wiretapping case, a Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed his no-case submission and directed him to enter his defence, paving the way for further proceedings.

His continued detention has sparked reactions from supporters and opposition figures, some of whom have questioned the circumstances surrounding his prolonged custody and called for the protection of his fundamental rights.