The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised concerns over the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that recent developments surrounding his case could point to religious bias.
The Council, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said it had initially refrained from commenting on the matter because it considered the case a judicial process that should be allowed to run its course.
However, Oloyede said recent developments in the public domain had compelled the Islamic body to review its position and express concern over what it described as possible “extraneous involvement” in the case.
The intervention followed an ongoing controversy between El-Rufai’s family and the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), over comments attributed to the minister concerning security challenges in Southern Kaduna during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023.
Musa had reportedly described the atmosphere in Kaduna during the period as “toxic” and made allegations concerning El-Rufai’s role in the security situation in Southern Kaduna.
El-Rufai’s family rejected the allegations and demanded that the Defence Minister provide evidence or retract his claims.
In a statement signed by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the former governor’s eldest son, the family reportedly gave Musa seven days to substantiate the allegations or withdraw them publicly.
Reacting to the wider controversy, the NSCIA said its earlier decision to remain silent was based on its confidence in the Judiciary’s ability to determine the issues before it.
The Council, however, said the latest developments had raised concerns about the integrity of the process.
It stated: “However, recent developments in the public domain 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 religious considerations did not interfere with the legal process.
“Consequently, the Council calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponizing public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him,” it said.
The Council said its intervention was not intended to determine the substance of the allegations against the former governor but to draw attention to the need for fairness and integrity in the judicial process.
It also urged Nigerians to avoid comments capable of prejudicing the case or aggravating existing security and religious tensions in the country.
The NSCIA called for restraint and urged all parties to allow the legal process to take its course.
The Council concluded its statement with a prayer for peace, stability and security in Nigeria.
