Civil rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called for a full-scale investigation into former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that while his rights must be respected, he must also answer questions about his record in office.
Speaking in Interview ARISE News on Friday, Adeyanju dismissed claims that El-Rufai was targeted for unlawful arrest at Abuja’s international airport, arguing instead that security agencies were likely acting within their legal powers.
“I am not convinced that there was any plan to arrest him. I’m not convinced from the clip,” Adeyanju said. “I think Malam Nasir El-Rufai, just like everyone who agrees with me, is always extremely sensational and is a drama artist as well. He’s very good at this opposition thing. He knew what he was doing, and when he came in, he came very prepared for cameras.”
‘Adeyanju rejected the former governor’s claim that operatives attempted to detain him without a warrant.
“I think that they wanted to target his passport, and the DSS actually got his passport. I think that was what they wanted to get. Nobody planned to arrest him. If there was a plan to arrest him, for sure they would have arrested him.”
He argued that Nigerian law allows arrest under certain conditions.
“Even Malam Nasir El-Rufai, I believe he has read some of our extant laws. You can be arrested with probable cause. You can also be arrested with a warrant,” he said.
Offering what he described as “a free tutorial,” Adeyanju added: “Probable cause is a fundamental ground for arrest, and Malam Nasir El-Rufai is even very lucky that his passport was taken from him. Several of his critics didn’t even get this kind of treatment, the kind of fantastic treatment that he got at the airport.”
However, he was clear that any arrest without lawful basis would be unacceptable.
“If they had tried to do that, it’s unlawful. It’s unconstitutional. Of course I would condemn it,” he said. “His rights must be respected. His rights must not be violated, but he must be investigated.”
Adeyanju suggested that the seizure of El-Rufai’s passport may have been linked to security watch-list procedures.
“I think Section 2 of the DSS instrument regulation, which is in compliance with the NSA Act, gives the DSS the power to seize someone’s passport if your name is on the watch list,” he said.
He noted that El-Rufai himself had admitted that anti-corruption agencies were seeking to question him.
“He has said that he knew that the security agencies were looking for him. He has admitted that he had written to the EFCC. He has also alluded to the fact that the ICPC is investigating him. So if these agencies were looking for you and you are aware, why are you creating the drama there?”
Beyond the airport incident, Adeyanju questioned El-Rufai’s claims of political persecution, describing them as ironic.
“It is so ironic today that the oppressors of yesterday are now crying. They are now claiming to be emergency comrades,” he said. “The people who oppressed, who mobilised thugs to attack us at the barricades, who violated our rights, who mocked us and said protest is for enemies of the state and enemies of the government are now resorting to protest. It’s an irony.”
He cited several individuals he claimed were targeted during El-Rufai’s tenure.
“If you want to see what persecution is, go and look at all the victims of Malam Nasir El-Rufai when he was governor. Professor Chidi Odinkalu was persecuted by him. Stephen Kefas was persecuted by him. Audu Maikori was persecuted and jailed for criticising him. Their only crime was criticising him.”
Adeyanju further alleged that El-Rufai demolished properties belonging to political opponents.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai demolished the house of Senator Shehu Sani, his political rival. He demolished Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir’s house, former vice chairman of APC, because he was one of his rivals.”’
Adeyanju maintained that calls for due process must be consistent.
“Every citizen of Nigeria deserves due process. This is what Malam Nasir El-Rufai didn’t understand as governor. He’s facing the same karma that he meted out to others.”
He referenced disputes involving civil servants in Kaduna.
“Teachers and civil servants in Kaduna went to court and got an order restraining Nasir El-Rufai from sacking them. He sacked them nonetheless.”
Calling for accountability, he said: “I am calling that he should be investigated for the alleged corruption. Some of his aides are already in custody. Some are standing trial. He cannot be the judge, jury and executioner. He should submit himself to investigation and probe.”
Adeyanju stressed that investigation does not amount to guilt.
“It is after the investigation is done, if there is a prima facie case, then he will be charged. Then he will have his day in court to defend himself.”
“The oppressors of yesterday cannot suddenly become heroes today,” he said. “He has not shown any form of remorse for all the human rights violations. If Nasir El-Rufai is given another chance at governance, he will do the same or worse. He does not care about morality. He is a prominent violator of human rights. He is a prominent oppressor of the less privileged.”
Summing up his position, he said: “In summary, this is karma. And again, any small thing, he calls Nuhu Ribadu’s name. The reason he does that is because he knows that Nuhu Ribadu is his political rival. As long as Nuhu Ribadu is in a sensitive position, he will not be able to sleep well.”
Adeyanju concluded that accountability must apply equally to all public officials, past and present, insisting that investigation is not persecution, but a necessary part of democratic governance.
Boluwatife Enome
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