“Detention Without Proper Investigation Must End” - Says El-Rufai
Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has warned that Nigeria is drifting towards governance without accountability, citing selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws as a major threat to democracy.
El-Rufai criticised what he described as a targeted fight against corruption, arguing that it weakens accountability and erodes public trust in government.
He also condemned the increasing use of arrests and prolonged detentions without thorough investigation, saying such practices are being deployed as tools of intimidation rather than justice.
Currently out of the country on medical grounds, El-Rufai delivered his remarks through a recorded video and participated in the dialogue virtually.
“Detention without proper investigation must end,” he said, stressing that the law should exist to protect citizens, not to terrify them.
According to him, the use of security agencies for political repression instead of public protection creates fear and steadily undermines democratic norms.
He expressed concern over what he termed selective prosecution, particularly of individuals perceived to be critical of the government, noting that such actions violate fundamental human rights and weaken democratic institutions.
“When law enforcement is weaponised against political opponents, democracy erodes quietly but steadily,” he warned.
El-Rufai argued that a credible anti-corruption drive must be rooted in transparency, due process and equal application of the law.
He accused the government of shielding corrupt officials within the ruling elite while aggressively pursuing opposition figures.
“We have governance without accountability,” he said, adding that while elections are held and institutions established, accountability remains selective.
According to him, corruption appears to be “dangerous for those in opposition, negotiable for fence-sitters and invisible for those aligned with power.”
He said the effects of selective enforcement are evident in unpaid salaries, abandoned projects, decaying infrastructure and widespread public cynicism.
“When laws are enforced unevenly, deterrence collapses and public trust evaporates,” he said.
Calling on political leaders, civil society groups and citizens to push for reforms, El-Rufai said ending unlawful detentions and applying anti-corruption laws impartially are both legal and moral imperatives.
“We need a democracy that delivers, not one sustained by coercion and selective persecution,” he concluded.
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