Why Atiku Wants El-Rufai, Sheikh Zaria Released

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has again raised concerns over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, putting their cases back in the spotlight during Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

In his October 1, 2026 address, Atiku said the continued detention of the two men raised questions about due process that authorities needed to answer. He called for the rule of law to be applied fairly in all cases. (Vanguard News)

But why is Atiku pressing the government over their detention, and what are the cases against the two men?

Atiku Renews Questions Over Their Detention

Atiku’s latest intervention centres on what he describes as concerns over due process and the fair application of the law.

His October 1 statement did not suggest that allegations against either man should be ignored. Instead, he argued that authorities must justify prolonged detention and ensure that suspects receive the protections available to them under Nigerian law. (ThisDayLive)

The Independence Day remarks also follow earlier, more explicit interventions from the former vice president.

In May, Atiku called for El-Rufai’s release, describing his continued detention as “unjustifiable” and raising concerns about civil liberties and the use of state institutions against perceived political opponents. (Punch Newspapers)

For Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, Atiku had already taken a similar position in March, saying authorities should either release the cleric or prosecute him before a court. (Punch Newspapers)

Why El-Rufai Is in Custody

El-Rufai’s legal troubles involve more than one case.

The former Kaduna governor was initially detained in February after honouring an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. After his release from EFCC custody, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed that it had taken him into custody in connection with another investigation. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The ICPC later told an Abuja court that it was investigating allegations of financial misconduct during El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna governor between 2015 and 2023.

According to court filings reported by Premium Times, the petition under investigation included allegations relating to government loans, procurement, transfers from public accounts and payments made to companies and individuals. El-Rufai has disputed the allegations and challenged aspects of his arrest and detention in court. (Premium Times Nigeria)

In March, the ICPC arraigned him on corruption-related charges, including alleged conversion and possession of public property and money laundering. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings. (Punch Newspapers)

A Federal High Court in Kaduna subsequently granted El-Rufai ₦200 million bail in April, but ordered that he remain in ICPC custody until he fulfilled the bail conditions. (Premium Times Nigeria)

He also faces a separate case brought by the State Security Service over allegations connected to the interception of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu’s communications.

A Federal High Court granted him ₦100 million bail in that case in May. In June, however, the court rejected his request to vary some of the conditions attached to that bail. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The ICPC has denied claims that El-Rufai’s detention is politically motivated and said in May that he remained in custody because he had not met the conditions imposed by the courts. (Punch Newspapers)

Who Is Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria and Why Was He Detained?

Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria is an Islamic cleric based in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Reports say security operatives detained him in December 2025 over allegations linking him to a suspected plot against President Bola Tinubu’s government.

Premium Times reported in January that the cleric was taken into custody after travelling to Abuja while trying to resolve the freezing of his bank account. Sources cited by the newspaper linked his detention to an alleged coup plot. (Premium Times Nigeria)

The allegations should be treated carefully because Atiku’s March statement said the cleric had not at that stage been formally prosecuted in court.

Atiku argued that keeping him in custody without trial raised constitutional and human-rights concerns. He therefore called on the authorities to either release him or formally prosecute him so the allegations could be tested through the judicial process. (Punch Newspapers)

Why Atiku Says Due Process Is the Issue

Atiku’s stated argument is not simply that the two men should escape investigation.

His position is that government agencies must operate within the law even when dealing with serious allegations.

In El-Rufai’s case, Atiku has particularly criticised bail conditions which he says have effectively prevented the former governor from leaving custody despite courts granting him bail.

In June, he argued that bail conditions that are practically impossible to satisfy could amount to what he described as a “constructive denial of bail.” (Punch Newspapers)

For Sheikh Khalifa, his concern has centred on the length of detention and the need for the government to either bring formal charges before a court or release the cleric.

That is why Atiku returned to both cases in his Independence Day address, saying political freedom must include the ability of Nigerians to question government and insisting that the rule of law should apply fairly. (Punch Newspapers)

What the Authorities Have Said

The ICPC has rejected suggestions that its handling of El-Rufai’s case is politically motivated.

The commission said it was performing its statutory responsibility and maintained that El-Rufai remained in custody because he had been unable to satisfy court-approved bail requirements. (Punch Newspapers)

El-Rufai, meanwhile, has mounted several legal challenges relating to his detention and treatment.

In August, he filed a ₦10 billion fundamental-rights suit against the ICPC over allegations that members of his family had been denied access to him while he was in custody. (Channels Television)

Another rights-enforcement suit brought by the former governor was adjourned in September until October 27, showing that legal disputes surrounding his detention remain unresolved. (Premium Times Nigeria)

In Sheikh Khalifa’s case, Atiku and others have continued to demand greater clarity about his legal status and the allegations against him.

What Happens Next?

For El-Rufai, attention will remain on the corruption and security-related cases before the courts, his bail conditions and the separate fundamental-rights actions he has filed.

For Sheikh Khalifa, the central question remains whether authorities will formally prosecute him over the allegations reported against him or release him.

Atiku’s intervention therefore turns both cases into a wider debate over how Nigeria balances criminal investigations and national-security concerns with constitutional protections for people accused of wrongdoing.

His October 1 message is ultimately centred on that question: whether the government can investigate serious allegations while still ensuring that detention, bail and prosecution follow due process.