Detained for 256 days, El-Rufai seeks fair trial in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, has called on foreign leaders and international organisations to intervene after 256 days in detention, demanding a fair trial. He made the appeal on 30 October on X, as several legal proceedings target him, according to Business Day Nigeria.
Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State in Nigeria, called on international leaders and human rights organisations on 30 October to intervene to secure a fair trial, as he has been detained for 256 days, Business Day Nigeria reports. In a message posted on X, he specifically appealed to US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the United Nations, the African Union and Amnesty International.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged interception of telephone communications linked to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. On 26 October, the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected his application for a no-case submission, finding that the evidence presented by the prosecution warranted his presenting a defence. The hearing is due to resume on 25 November.
The former governor denies the accusations. The case follows an interview he gave to Arise Television in February, during which he discussed the alleged interception of Ribadu’s telephone conversations. The DSS called two witnesses before closing its presentation of the evidence against him.
The 26 October decision led the court to order him to respond to the accusations in the telephone tapping case.
