Legal practitioner and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate release of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from detention.
Okonkwo stated this during an interview with CHANNELS NEWS, noting that while he is not opposed to El-Rufai facing trial where necessary, the former governor’s fundamental human rights must not be violated in the process. According to him, respecting the rule of law requires that any accused person be granted full constitutional protections, including freedom from arbitrary detention.
“The first thing he (President Tinubu) should do is to release El-Rufai and we are not saying he should not face trial but his fundamental human right should be guaranteed,” Okonkwo stated, stressing that no government should use detention in a manner that appears vindictive or politically motivated.
He maintained that adherence to due process and fair hearing is essential to sustaining public confidence in the justice system, adding that ensuring El-Rufai’s rights are protected would send a positive signal about the administration’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.