FHIPD Urges Tinubu to Consider El-Rufai’s Release, Calls for Justice Tempered with Humanity
The Chairman of the Farmers and Herders Initiative for Peace and Development (FHIPD), Dr. Salim Musa Umar, has appealed to the Federal Government to consider the release of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from what he described as prolonged detention, urging the authorities to ensure that justice is administered with fairness, restraint and humanity.
In a statement issued on Monday, Dr. Umar said his appeal was not intended to interfere with ongoing investigations or judicial proceedings but to draw attention to the humanitarian implications of keeping a citizen in detention for an extended period before conviction.
“There comes a point in the life of a nation when the question is no longer merely whether a man has committed an offence, but whether justice is being administered with fairness, restraint and humanity,” he said.
According to him, El-Rufai has spent close to 200 days in detention while awaiting trial, a situation he described as excessive for any accused person who has not been convicted by a court of law.
Dr. Umar acknowledged El-Rufai’s role in the political events that led to the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, recalling that the former governor was among the prominent political figures who actively supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
“Whatever differences may exist today, history will not erase the contribution of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to the political movement that produced this administration,” he said.
“He defended Asiwaju passionately, intellectually and sometimes at great political cost. He stood in the trenches when the political battle was difficult. That history deserves to be remembered, even if the relationship between the two men has subsequently changed.”
The FHIPD chairman, however, stressed that El-Rufai’s previous political support for the President should neither shield him from prosecution nor justify any preferential treatment.
“Nobody is saying El-Rufai should be above the law. If there are allegations against him, let him face them. If there is evidence, let the prosecution present it before a competent court. But prosecution should not become persecution, and detention should not become punishment before conviction,” he said.
Expressing concern over the duration of the former governor’s detention, Umar questioned whether continued incarceration was necessary if the case could proceed while El-Rufai remained on bail under reasonable conditions.
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“Nearly 200 days is a very long time. It is enough to make every fair-minded Nigerian pause and ask whether justice is still being served in the most appropriate manner,” he stated.
He also criticised reports of stringent bail conditions, arguing that bail should not be structured in a way that makes an accused person’s release practically impossible.
“If bail is granted but the conditions are so difficult that the accused cannot realistically satisfy them, then one must ask whether the objective of bail is actually being achieved,” he added.
The FHIPD chairman further drew attention to appeals reportedly made by eminent Nigerians, including the Sultan of Sokoto, urging the authorities to review El-Rufai’s continued detention.
According to him, such interventions should not be interpreted as attempts to obstruct the work of anti-corruption agencies or the judiciary but as calls for fairness and compassion within the justice system.
“The intervention of eminent Nigerians, including the Sultan, should make us reflect. They are not asking that El-Rufai be declared innocent. They are asking that he be given the opportunity to defend himself under reasonable conditions while the law takes its course,” he said.
Dr. Umar appealed directly to President Tinubu and relevant authorities to consider El-Rufai’s release on reasonable bail if his continued detention was not essential to the prosecution of the case.
“Mr. President, this is an appeal to your sense of justice and humanity. You do not have to interfere with the courts or stop any investigation. You only need to ensure that a man who has not been convicted is not subjected to prolonged deprivation of his liberty when the law can take its course while he is on reasonable bail,” he said.
He maintained that granting bail would not amount to abandoning accountability, stressing that the prosecution should be allowed to present its case while the courts determine the outcome.
“Let him go home. Let him defend himself. Let the prosecution prove its case. Let the court determine the outcome. If he is guilty, let the law take its course. If he is innocent, let him regain his freedom. That is the essence of justice,” Umar added.
The FHIPD chairman said his appeal transcended partisan politics, insisting that compassion should remain an integral part of the administration of justice.
“Today, I appeal not as a politician, but as a Nigerian who believes that justice must always be accompanied by humanity. Political disagreements should not erase compassion. The law must be allowed to work, but the humanity of the person standing before the law must never be forgotten,” he said.
He concluded by urging the Federal Government to allow El-Rufai to face trial from outside detention under reasonable bail conditions, insisting that justice should always be balanced with mercy and respect for the rule of law.
By PRNigeria
