El-Rufai Appeals to Global Leaders Amid Ongoing Detention

Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, has reached out to international leaders, including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, to draw attention to his ongoing detention, which he claims is politically motivated and has lasted 256 days. In a post on X, he emphasized the importance of access to justice and a fair hearing as fundamental human rights.

This appeal follows a ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on October 26, which found sufficient evidence for the Department of State Services (DSS) to compel El-Rufai to mount a defense in a criminal case linked to an interview he gave in February. He also faces separate allegations from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding financial misconduct during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.

El-Rufai was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in February 2026 and has since been transferred to the ICPC, with his legal team arguing against the charges.