According to a report by The Cable on Friday, March 13, 2026, former Labour Party chieftain and lawyer Kenneth Okonkwo has raised concerns over the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing it as a violation of constitutional provisions on fundamental human rights.
El-Rufai has been held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The detention comes amid ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
Okonkwo made these remarks during an interview on ‘Morning Brief,’ a programme broadcast on Channels Television on Friday, calling for the respect of due process and legal protections for suspects.
El-Rufai’s detention was extended recently when a magistrate court in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, granted ICPC a fresh order to hold him for an additional 14 days.
This extension was justified by the agency as necessary for continued investigations into the allegations against him.
However, Okonkwo argued that such prolonged detention under the guise of ongoing investigations contravenes established legal principles and rulings of the Supreme Court.
He emphasised that arrests and detentions should follow the completion of sufficient investigative work, and that evidence must exist before an individual is deprived of personal liberty.
Okonkwo stressed that el-Rufai should either be released immediately or granted bail if authorities intend to prosecute him formally.
He described the ongoing detention as a breach of the ex-governor’s rights and asserted that security and anti-corruption agencies do not have unlimited authority to hold a suspect indefinitely.
According to him, adherence to the rule of law requires that suspects’ constitutional rights be fully respected, including the right to personal liberty, protection from arbitrary detention, and access to legal representation.
The former LP chieftain also suggested that el-Rufai’s current predicament may have political undertones, linking it to the ex-governor’s recent association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Okonkwo argued that political considerations should not influence the treatment of individuals under investigation and warned against allowing partisan motivations to dictate the actions of law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.
He called for a clear separation between political affiliation and the application of justice, insisting that only courts of law should determine guilt or innocence.
Furthermore, Okonkwo held the nation’s leadership accountable for the actions of federal agencies involved in the detention, specifically noting that ultimate responsibility rests with President Bola Tinubu as commander-in-chief.
He argued that the president must ensure that investigations and prosecutions are conducted within the confines of the law and should prevent any misuse of power by security agencies.
Okonkwo’s comments highlighted the broader concerns about legal accountability, political influence in law enforcement, and the need to uphold constitutional protections for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.
He said, “He is being maltreated, he is being persecuted because he has joined ADC and we are not exculpating anybody. But it is the court of law that should decide, not the gulag of President Tinubu.”…..See More
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