Peter Obi and Dele Momodu have renewed demands for the release of Nasir El-Rufai. Obi is the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate. Momodu is an ADC chieftain. They condemned El-Rufai’s prolonged custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). They said he has been held without formal judicial resolution.
El-Rufai is a former Kaduna State governor. He served from 2015 to 2023. He was a founding member of the APC. He fell out with the party’s national leadership. He has been critical of President Bola Tinubu. In 2026, the ICPC invited him for questioning over alleged financial irregularities. He appeared. He was detained. He has remained in custody. The ICPC has not filed charges. The courts have not ruled on his detention. The case is politically charged.
Obi and Momodu’s demand is significant. Obi is a presidential candidate. Momodu is a veteran journalist and politician. Their intervention raises the profile of the case. They argue that detention without trial is unconstitutional. They say El-Rufai should be released or charged. The ICPC has not responded. The presidency has not commented.
The legal position is complex. Nigerian law allows detention for investigation. But prolonged detention without charge is problematic. The Constitution guarantees liberty. It allows detention only under specific conditions. El-Rufai’s lawyers have challenged his detention. The courts have not ruled definitively.
The political context matters. El-Rufai is a former APC governor. He joined the ADC. He is now aligned with the opposition. His detention is seen by some as political. The government denies this. It says the ICPC is independent. The timing raises questions. The 2027 election is approaching. El-Rufai’s detention removes a vocal critic from the political stage.
Obi’s intervention is strategic. He and El-Rufai are not natural allies. El-Rufai is a northern Muslim. Obi is a southern Christian. They differ on many issues. But both oppose Tinubu. Obi’s demand positions him as a defender of due process. It also builds bridges with northern elites.
Winners: El-Rufai, who gains support. Obi, who gains visibility. Momodu, who gains relevance. The opposition, which gains a rallying point. Losers: The ICPC, whose process is questioned. The presidency, which faces criticism. The rule of law, if detention is politicised. El-Rufai, if he remains in custody.
Bottom Line: Obi and Momodu want El-Rufai released. The ICPC has not charged him. Detention without trial is a constitutional problem. The case is political. The courts must decide.