‘Release El-Rufai or Take Him to Court’ – Sultan of Sokoto Challenges Tinubu

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to either release former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, or ensure he is properly charged before a court of law.

The call was made public through a sermon shared online, where Islamic scholar, Sanusi Khalil, relayed the Sultan’s stance.

According to him, “Nasir should either be arraigned before a competent court or released on bail while investigations continue.

The Sultan is not saying a perpetrator should not be punished; rather, he is requesting due process should be followed.”

The Sultan’s position centres on the need for fairness and adherence to legal procedures. He stressed that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done, especially in matters involving high-profile political figures.

Beyond the issue of El-Rufai’s detention, the Sultan also reportedly raised concerns over security developments in Northern Nigeria. He questioned the presence of American troops in the region and sought clarity on their mission.

According to Khalil, the monarch asked whether the deployment was strictly for training purposes or part of a broader plan to establish a permanent military base.

“If a base is going to be provided for them, then why must it be established in Northern Nigeria?” Khalil quoted the Sultan as asking.

The cleric backed the Sultan’s intervention, noting that such concerns are often difficult for ordinary citizens to raise. “We at our level can’t ask such hard-hitting questions, it might be tagged as disrespectful, but I am glad leaders like the Sultan are asking the right questions, and he will always have our support and prayers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has defended El-Rufai’s continued detention. The agency said its actions are based on an existing court order, dismissing suggestions of arbitrary detention.

ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, explained that the commission appeared in court to respond to an application filed by El-Rufai on March 6, seeking to set aside a remand order earlier granted on March 5.

He stated that “All actions taken so far were in strict compliance with the law, including the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015,” adding that the court initially approved a 14-day detention period, which was later extended to allow for further investigation.