Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has renewed his demand for a fair trial as he marks what he described as 256 days in detention, insisting that the right to a fair hearing is a fundamental human right that must be respected regardless of the allegations against an accused person.
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The former governor, who is facing criminal proceedings involving allegations of corruption and unlawful interception of telephone communications, made his position known in a statement shared on his official X account on Friday, October 30, 2026.
In the statement, El-Rufai emphasised that access to justice and the right to a fair trial should not be treated as privileges granted at the discretion of the authorities.
“El-Rufai Detention Update. 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 post read.
El-Rufai has been in custody since February 16, 2026, following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of financial mismanagement during his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The allegations followed investigations into the financial activities of his administration, including findings contained in a report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The Assembly had raised concerns about the management of public funds estimated at between ₦423 billion and ₦432 billion during El-Rufai’s eight years in office.
The allegations subsequently became the subject of investigations by anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Following his initial arrest by the EFCC, El-Rufai was transferred to the custody of the ICPC as investigations and legal proceedings continued.
The former governor has consistently maintained his right to defend himself against the allegations through the judicial process.
In addition to the corruption-related proceedings, El-Rufai is facing a separate criminal case instituted by the State Security Service (SSS) over allegations relating to the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The charges followed comments attributed to El-Rufai during a television interview, which became the subject of an investigation by security authorities.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
The proceedings have generated legal arguments concerning the allegations, the evidence presented by the prosecution and the former governor’s entitlement to bail and a fair hearing.
Although courts have granted him bail in some of the cases, the conditions attached to the orders have prevented him from securing his release, according to the account of his continued detention.
His legal difficulties have consequently involved proceedings before different courts, with the outcome of one application not necessarily determining his custody status in other pending cases.
In March 2026, El-Rufai was temporarily released on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial before returning to custody.
The temporary release did not bring an end to the criminal proceedings against him.
In the separate case concerning the alleged unlawful interception of communications, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently dismissed a no-case submission filed by the former governor.
The court consequently ordered him to enter his defence against the charges.
A no-case submission is a legal application through which a defendant argues that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence requiring the defendant to answer the allegations.
Where such an application is dismissed, the court directs the defendant to proceed with his defence.
The dismissal of a no-case submission does not amount to a conviction or a final determination of criminal liability.
El-Rufai therefore remains entitled to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and present his defence in accordance with the law.
The former governor’s continued detention has also generated public debate, with supporters and opposition figures questioning the circumstances surrounding his custody and calling for the protection of his constitutional rights.
Some have expressed concern about the duration of his detention, particularly in light of the bail proceedings and the multiple criminal cases involving him.
However, the authorities have maintained that the proceedings concern allegations of corruption and national security offences that remain before the courts.
The allegations against El-Rufai have not been established by a final judgment of conviction, and he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, a person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or tribunal established by law.
The Constitution also guarantees the presumption of innocence until guilt is proved in accordance with the law.
Similarly, Section 35 protects the right to personal liberty, subject to the circumstances and procedures permitted by law.
These constitutional protections apply to persons accused of criminal offences, irrespective of their political status or the seriousness of the allegations against them.
El-Rufai’s latest statement places renewed emphasis on those protections as the criminal proceedings continue.
His demand for a fair trial comes amid continuing legal challenges involving allegations arising from his administration in Kaduna State and the separate proceedings concerning the alleged interception of communications.
The former governor has maintained that the judicial process must be conducted in accordance with constitutional guarantees and the rule of law.
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