A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Usman Austin, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to either formally charge former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to court or release him.
In a statement made available on Saturday, Austin expressed concern over the continued detention of the former governor, urging the anti-corruption agency to adhere strictly to due process.
He referenced the recent approach adopted by the Department of State Services in handling similar matters, noting that the agency had opted to seek judicial intervention rather than resort to what he described as arbitrary detention.
“The decision of the DSS to approach a court of law rather than resorting to arbitrary detention is both civil and democratic,” Austin said. “The DSS has shown that the proper way to handle such matters is to let the court decide through merit-based arguments from both the prosecutor and the defendant.”
Austin maintained that if there are allegations against El-Rufai, such claims should be tested in a court of competent jurisdiction. He stressed that adherence to established legal procedures remains fundamental to upholding the rule of law and protecting democratic institutions.
The ADC chieftain further noted that El-Rufai had previously honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, describing him as cooperative with investigative authorities.
He urged the ICPC to ensure transparency in its handling of the matter, insisting that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
