Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Reuben Abati, has claimed that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, may remain in detention until after the election amid the ongoing legal battle surrounding his case.
Abati made the remark during Wednesday’s edition of The Morning Show on Arise Television, where he weighed in on the former governor’s legal troubles and the wider political implications surrounding the matter.
According to him, although the case is currently before the court, political factors appear to be playing a significant role in how events are unfolding.
He pointed to the strict bail conditions imposed on El-Rufai, noting that the former governor has struggled to meet one of the key requirements for his release.
Abati explained that one of the major conditions requires El-Rufai to provide a Level 17 official from the Federal Capital Territory as part of his bail terms. However, reports suggest the former governor has been unable to satisfy that requirement.
He further stated that attempts to get the court to review or soften the conditions have not yielded any positive outcome.
The veteran journalist also noted that the case against El-Rufai extends beyond ordinary legal proceedings, involving allegations of wiretapping, corruption, and other serious accusations.
He added that the matter has now been adjourned until September, a development that may further prolong El-Rufai’s stay in custody.
Abati said: “The bail conditions for El-Rufai, yes, they are very stringent, but the way I see it, there is more involved. There is also politics involved.
“He’s been told to look for a level 17 official from the federal capital territory. He says he doesn’t have. The court is not willing to vary the conditions for him.
“It’s a very complex case because he has issues with regard to wire tapping, issues with regard to, you know, other allegations about corruption, about what he did, and then the case has been postponed till September.
“So the way it looks in terms of real politics, I don’t think they will do anything about releasing Nasir El-Rufai until after the election.
“You should just know that this is politics, but this is also about responsibility and accountability.
“We cannot challenge the court in terms of what the court decides. It is within the discretion of the court to say these are the bail conditions, and he says he cannot meet at least one principal bail condition.”