Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the refusal of a Federal High Court to review the bail conditions imposed on former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. He argued that the conditions are so difficult to meet that they effectively amount to continued detention despite the granting of bail.
According to Atiku, the principle of presumption of innocence remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s legal system. He stressed that bail is intended to protect that constitutional right and should not become a mechanism for punishment before a court has determined guilt.
The former vice president particularly questioned reports that El-Rufai was required to provide a serving Grade Level 17 federal civil servant who owns verifiable property in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts, alongside other stringent requirements. He argued that such conditions raise concerns about whether bail was genuinely intended to secure release or merely create obstacles that make freedom unattainable.
Atiku further warned that the issue extends beyond El-Rufai’s personal circumstances. He said the broader concern is the protection of constitutional liberties and the rule of law, cautioning that legal processes should never be perceived as tools for targeting opposition figures or critics of government.
He maintained that courts should ensure bail conditions are fair, proportionate, and designed solely to guarantee an accused person’s appearance in court. According to him, when bail conditions become practically impossible to satisfy, they can amount to what legal experts describe as a “constructive denial of bail.”
Atiku emphasized that the question of guilt or innocence should be left entirely to the courts, but insisted that the rights to liberty, fair hearing, and presumption of innocence must be protected throughout the judicial process. He called on institutions involved in the administration of justice to uphold fairness and maintain public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
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Atiku Raises Concern Over El-Rufai’s Bail Conditions, Warns Against Politicising Justice
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Atiku Abubakar has criticized the stringent bail conditions imposed on Nasir El-Rufai, warning that courts must not become instruments for punishing opposition figures before conviction.
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Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the continued detention of Nasir El-Rufai, arguing that the bail conditions imposed by the court are excessively difficult to meet. He warned against using legal processes to suppress political opposition and emphasized that every accused person remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
The Story Mean (Pidgin English)
Atiku Say Court No Suppose Turn Bail to Punishment
Atiku Abubakar don talk say the bail conditions wey court give former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, too hard to fulfill. According to am, person wey never get conviction for court still remain innocent under the law, so bail no suppose become another way to keep person for detention.
Atiku say the matter no be only about El-Rufai. He warn say if legal process begin look like tool to fight opposition politicians, e fit damage democracy and people’s trust in the justice system. He call on courts and government institutions to always protect citizens’ constitutional rights and make sure justice remain fair for everybody.
