The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has raised concerns over what it described as possible religious bias in the ongoing prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The council, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, said recent developments surrounding the case had raised serious questions about whether religious considerations were being allowed to influence the judicial process.
The NSCIA said it had previously refrained from commenting on El-Rufai’s prosecution because it regarded the matter as a normal judicial process and trusted the judiciary to uphold justice.
However, the council said its position had changed following recent developments in the public domain, which it said suggested “an underlying religious bias” against the former governor.
The Islamic body consequently called on the Federal Government and the judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests were prevented from using public institutions or the legal system to pursue what it described as a sectarian agenda against El-Rufai.
The council, however, did not call for the withdrawal of the prosecution or argue that El-Rufai should be exempt from legal proceedings. Instead, it emphasised the need for the case to be handled fairly and without religious interference.
The NSCIA also urged Nigerians to exercise restraint in their public comments on the matter, warning that inflammatory statements could prejudice El-Rufai’s right to a fair trial and potentially worsen the country’s security situation.
The intervention comes amid heightened public attention surrounding the former governor’s legal troubles. El-Rufai is facing ongoing proceedings over allegations arising from his time as Kaduna State governor, allegations which he has denied.
The council’s statement comes days after Defence Minister Christopher Musa criticised El-Rufai during a television interview, accusing the former governor of actions that allegedly deepened divisions between northern and southern Kaduna. El-Rufai’s family has subsequently threatened legal action if Musa does not substantiate his allegations.
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