01/07/2026
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai: Enduring Injustice with Unbroken Resolve
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has now spent over 130 days in detention. What began as a series of investigations has gradually revealed itself as a sustained campaign of political persecution. Despite court orders granting him bail in one of the matters, he remains in custody under conditions that many legal observers have described as deliberately difficult to meet. This prolonged detention has continued even as serious allegations of a plot to poison him have surfaced publicly, raising deep concerns about his safety while in state custody.
Recent developments have only deepened the sense of injustice. The wife of Mallam El-Rufai, Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, recently raised an alarm that she and her daughter are being followed and that their phones are being bugged. She warned that if anything happens to them, the government must be held responsible. These are not ordinary concerns. They come from a family that has already endured the trauma of seeing their husband and father held for months without conviction. The fear now extends beyond Mallam El-Rufai to his immediate family, painting a picture of coordinated intimidation.
In court, the prosecution in the DSS case has struggled to present concrete evidence. During the recent hearing, the prosecution’s own witness clarified that Mallam El-Rufai never claimed to have personally hacked or intercepted the National Security Adviser’s phone. Instead, he only stated that someone had done so and passed the information to him. This admission significantly weakens the central allegation against him. Yet, the trial continues, while other former governors facing far more serious allegations walk freely and even contest elections under the ruling party.
What stands out most is Mallam El-Rufai’s resilience. He has remained calm, dignified, and consistent in his position. He returned to Nigeria voluntarily when invited by security agencies. He has submitted himself to the j
