Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, stating that the jail conditions imposed on him have made his release practically impossible.
Atiku said that the refusal to review the bail terms, as requested by El-Rufai’s defence council voted a case of unfairness and raises concerns about the protection of constitutional rights and the administration of justice.
The former vice president warned that excessive conditions could undermine the fundamental principle that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday on his behalf by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku maintained that while courts have the authority to set bail conditions, such powers must be exercised fairly and reasonably.
“Bail exists to protect the constitutional presumption of innocence and should not become a mechanism for punishment before conviction,” Atiku said.
He argued that conditions requiring a serving Grade Level 17 federal civil servant who owns verifiable property in high-value districts, alongside other stringent requirements, have effectively placed El-Rufai’s release beyond reach.
“When Nigerians see conditions that appear impossible for most citizens to meet, they are entitled to ask whether bail is genuinely being granted or whether detention is being prolonged through procedural means,” he stated.
Atiku further cautioned that the implications of the case extend beyond El-Rufai, stressing that constitutional safeguards must remain accessible to all citizens regardless of political affiliation.
“This matter is larger than one individual. It concerns the protection of liberty and the integrity of the rule of law.
“If bail becomes unattainable, then constitutional guarantees risk becoming meaningless in practice,” he said.
The former vice president also expressed concern over what he described as a growing perception that opposition figures and government critics are increasingly facing legal and administrative challenges that fuel doubts about equal treatment under the law.
“No democracy can flourish where citizens begin to suspect that legal processes are being deployed to suppress dissent rather than administer justice.
“The true test of democratic governance is how it treats those who disagree with those in authority,” he added.
Atiku clarified that his comments were not directed at the substance of the allegations before the court, noting that questions of guilt or innocence remain solely for judicial determination.
He, however, insisted that the constitutional rights to liberty, fair hearing and the presumption of innocence must be protected at all times.
“When bail conditions are so difficult that release becomes virtually impossible, detention effectively becomes the punishment before trial.
“Courts must guard against outcomes that weaken public confidence in the Constitution and the justice system,” he said.
He called on institutions involved in the administration of justice to uphold fairness, proportionality and respect for fundamental rights in handling criminal proceedings.