Be Fair in Trying Malami, El-Rufai, ADC Tells FG
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government of practicing selective justice in ongoing legal matters involving former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), both prominent opposition figures.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party contrasted the handling of these cases with another high-profile matter involving allegations of passport forgery and international conspiracy, where the accused were granted bail and proceedings have progressed without delay.
While affirming its commitment to the rule of law, the ADC stressed that justice must be applied evenly and without political bias.
“Where the law appears to operate selectively, it is crucial to insist that it is enforced transparently, consistently, and without political calculation,” the statement read. “The cases involving Malami and El-Rufai have raised serious public concerns due to the speed, manner, and sequence of enforcement actions.”
The party further criticized the repeated transfers of Malami and El-Rufai between detention facilities before investigations have been completed, suggesting that such actions may appear as pre-trial punishment or a tool to sideline opposition leaders.
“Custody should follow credible charges, not precede them in a way that creates the perception of coercion,” the statement added.
Regarding the allegations, the ADC said any evidence against Malami or El-Rufai should be pursued openly in court. “If there is proof, prosecute transparently.
Nigerians will not accept a situation where instruments of the federal government appear to move unusually fast against opposition figures, while similar matters elsewhere proceed at a slower pace,” Abdullahi said.
The party pointed to the passport forgery case, which involved serious allegations including international conspiracy and the use of a disputed passport in London, noting that the accused were granted bail and the case has been moving steadily through the courts.
