Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, stating that it will be held fully accountable if anything untoward happens to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai while in custody.
In a statement released on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Atiku described reports that El-Rufai suffered a nosebleed in detention as “deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democracy,” emphasising that the former governor’s health, safety and welfare are matters of grave concern to his family, friends, associates and the Nigerian public.
Atiku demanded immediate clarity from the authorities on: Which agency is currently holding El-Rufai (EFCC, ICPC, DSS/SSS, or any other security outfit). Whether he is receiving adequate medical care and Whether he has access to his family and legal representatives.
He said: “Whichever agency is responsible has a constitutional duty to guarantee his safety, dignity, access to medical care, and access to his family and legal representatives. Reports that he suffered a nosebleed while family members were allegedly denied access are deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democracy.”
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The former Vice President called for El-Rufai’s immediate release on bail if the authorities cannot assure his well-being, adding: “If anything happens to El-Rufai, this government will be held accountable.”
Atiku further criticised what he described as a pattern of selective prosecution, accusing anti-corruption agencies of targeting opposition figures while shielding others: “More troubling is the growing perception of selective prosecution, in which opposition figures are aggressively pursued while others are conspicuously shielded from investigation or interrogation. Anti-corruption must not become a political weapon.”
He stressed the need for transparency, even-handed justice and impartial application of the rule of law:“Justice must be transparent. Accountability must be even-handed. And the rule of law must apply to all without fear, without favour, and without political bias.”
The statement comes amid ongoing legal battles involving El-Rufai, including multiple corruption probes and a recent alleged attempt to arrest him at Abuja airport. His team has filed fundamental rights suits and accused security agencies of harassment and unlawful detention.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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