Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the bail conditions imposed by a Federal High Court as excessively difficult to meet.

Atiku said the refusal of the court to review the conditions had raised concerns about the protection of constitutional rights, particularly the presumption of innocence and the right to personal liberty.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president said bail should not be structured in a manner that keeps an accused person in custody before trial.

He said the conditions reportedly require El-Rufai to present a serving Grade Level 17 federal civil servant with verifiable property in either Maitama or Asokoro, alongside other requirements.

According to Atiku, such terms could make release unattainable for many defendants and amount to a denial of bail through procedural conditions.

He argued that while courts have the authority to determine bail terms, the discretion must be exercised reasonably and in a way that reflects the purpose of bail, which is to ensure that an accused person appears for trial.

“At a time when public trust in institutions is under unprecedented strain, the judiciary must be careful not to create the impression that justice is available only in theory but unreachable in practice,” Atiku said.

The former vice president said the matter went beyond El-Rufai, warning that difficult bail conditions could affect any Nigerian facing criminal charges.

He said the judiciary remained central to safeguarding citizens from abuse of power and should ensure that its decisions promote confidence in fairness, impartiality and access to justice.

Atiku also expressed concern over what he described as a growing perception that opposition politicians and government critics were increasingly being drawn into legal and administrative disputes.

He warned that democracy could be weakened where citizens believe legal institutions are being used to suppress dissent rather than to fairly prosecute alleged offences.

The former vice president said he was not commenting on the allegations against El-Rufai, noting that the courts had the sole responsibility of determining guilt or innocence.

He, however, urged all institutions involved in the justice system to uphold fairness, proportionality and respect for fundamental rights, saying bail conditions should secure a defendant’s attendance in court rather than serve as a means of prolonged detention.