The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has broken its silence on the prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that extraneous religious interests are influencing the case and demanding that justice be seen to be done.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the apex Islamic body said it had initially refrained from commenting because it considered the prosecution a standard judicial process and trusted the judiciary to uphold justice. However, recent developments in the public domain, the Council said, "have raised serious concerns that strongly suggest an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias against the former Governor".
The NSCIA consequently called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against El-Rufai. It also appealed to the public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice his fair trial or worsen the country's security situation.
The Council's intervention comes amid a deepening controversy. El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023, faces multiple charges including alleged abuse of office, fraud, and breach of national security. The ICPC has filed charges stemming from a 2024 Kaduna State House of Assembly probe report accusing his administration of mismanaging public funds, as well as allegations of unlawfully intercepting communications. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his prosecution is politically motivated.
The religious bias allegation follows recent remarks by Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), who accused El-Rufai of "deliberately planning" the killing of people in Kaduna State. El-Rufai's family gave the minister seven days to substantiate the claim or retract it, while his lawyers demanded ₦10 billion in damages.
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF), however, took a sharply divergent position, backing the Defence Minister and demanding an independent investigation into alleged killings and human rights abuses during El-Rufai's administration, including possible prosecution before the International Criminal Court. The MBF insisted the allegations deserved independent investigation rather than dismissal as political rhetoric.
The NSCIA did not identify the individuals or groups it suspected of pursuing a religious agenda against the former governor. It concluded by praying for peace, stability, and security across Nigeria.
Abuja Network News
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