The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused authorities of selective enforcement in legal cases against two prominent members: former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The party demands fair and even application of justice.
On Tuesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi released a statement on X. He said the party watches the cases closely.
“The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has been monitoring the ongoing legal cases involving two of our leaders, Mr. Abubakar Malami… and Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,” the statement read.
Abdullahi added that no one stands above the law. “As a law-abiding party, it is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law,” he said.
However, he pointed to inconsistencies. “However, in a constitutional democracy where the law is seen to operate selectively, it becomes imperative to insist… that justice must be applied evenly, transparently, and without political calculation,” he continued.
Concerns Over Different Treatments
The ADC compared the cases to a recent high-profile passport forgery matter. In that case, suspects got bail quickly and now face trial.
Yet Malami and El-Rufai face prolonged custody, agency transfers, and processes that seem to come before full prosecution, the party alleged.
The ADC reminded everyone that Malami and El-Rufai count as first citizens.
“Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai are first citizens of Nigeria before they are opposition leaders… They are therefore presumed innocent under the Constitution until proven otherwise in a fair and competent court of law,” the statement noted.
The party pledged support. “We will continue to stand by our members as they assert their legal rights and ensure that they are not isolated, intimidated, or denied the protections that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to under the law. We will never abandon our people in moments of trial.”
Malami faces money laundering charges from his time in office. The EFCC alleges improper handling of large, recovered funds, around ₦800 billion in some reports, though specifics vary.
On February 27, 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik at the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered him and his son remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.
His wife went to Suleja Correctional Centre. They pleaded not guilty. The court set March 6, 2026, for bail hearings.
El-Rufai, on his part, is being probed by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS.
Issues include alleged financial misconduct from 2015–2023 and phone-tapping claims after a February interview where he admitted to intercepting calls involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The ICPC searched his Abuja home on February 19, 2026. El-Rufai filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit against the ICPC over the search and detention.
His team could not serve respondents, so the March 11, 2026, hearing was adjourned.
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