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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of applying selective justice in legal proceedings involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami.
The opposition party raised concerns over the sequence of arrests, transfers between law enforcement agencies, and the pace of enforcement actions against the two politicians. According to the ADC, these patterns have fueled public debate about whether the rule of law is being applied impartially across political lines.
In a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it had been closely monitoring developments affecting its members.
“The ADC has been monitoring ongoing legal cases involving two of our leaders, Mr. Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation from Kebbi State, and El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State. As a law-abiding party, we affirm that no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law.”
The statement emphasized the importance of consistent and transparent application of justice:
“In a constitutional democracy, where the law appears to operate selectively, it is imperative that justice be applied evenly, transparently, and without political calculation—particularly in cases involving Malami and El-Rufai, where the manner, speed, and sequence of enforcement actions have understandably raised serious public concern.”
The ADC questioned the repeated movement of the two men between different law enforcement agencies while investigations are ongoing:
“The movement of Malami and El-Rufai from one agency’s custody to another in rapid succession, while investigations continue, has raised profound public concern. Custody must follow credible, well-prepared charges, not precede them in a way that creates the appearance of pre-trial punishment. If there is evidence against Malami or El-Rufai, it should be presented transparently in court, and the law allowed to take its course.”
The party contrasted these cases with a high-profile matter involving allegations of passport forgery, international conspiracy, and impersonation, where the defendants pleaded not guilty, were granted bail, and court proceedings are advancing swiftly.
“These are not minor procedural questions—they touch on national integrity and international credibility. The accused are presumed innocent under the Constitution until proven otherwise, and that presumption is a constitutional guarantee, not a courtesy.”
Reaffirming its commitment, the ADC vowed to support its members through the legal process:
“We will continue to stand by our members as they assert their legal rights. We will ensure they are not isolated, intimidated, or denied the protections to which every Nigerian citizen is entitled under the law.”
