“If I Cannot Get Justice At Home, Let The World Watch!” — El-Rufai Drags Trump, Macron, UN Into His 256-Day Detention Battle
By Passman Akpos
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, the United Nations and other international organisations to draw attention to his continued detention, insisting that he deserves a fair trial and access to justice.
El-Rufai made the appeal on Friday, October 30, 2026, as he marked what he described as his 256th day in detention, calling on international human rights organisations, foreign governments and global media organisations to monitor his situation.
In a message posted on his official X account under the hashtag #FairTrial, the former governor directly tagged Trump, Macron, the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, the European Union and the African Union.
He also mentioned the White House, the British government, the UK Parliament and international media organisations, including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, The New York Times and The Economist.
Emphasising his position, El-Rufai declared that the right to a fair trial was not a privilege or an act of mercy that could be granted or withheld by government authorities.
“A fair trial is not an act of mercy. It is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right,” he wrote.
His appeal has brought renewed attention to his prolonged detention and the multiple legal battles involving the former governor.
DSS CASE: COURT REJECTS EL-RUFAI’S NO-CASE SUBMISSION
The international appeal comes days after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed El-Rufai’s no-case submission in a criminal prosecution instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The case concerns allegations of unlawful interception of telephone communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The allegations followed an interview El-Rufai granted Arise Television in February 2026, during which he spoke about the alleged interception of Ribadu’s telephone conversations.
The DSS subsequently filed charges against him, which he has denied.
After presenting its witnesses and closing its case, the prosecution opposed El-Rufai’s application seeking to be discharged without entering a defence.
However, in its ruling on October 26, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik dismissed the no-case submission, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require the former governor to enter his defence if he wished to challenge the allegations.
The court subsequently fixed November 25, 2026, for the next stage of proceedings.
₦432 BILLION ALLEGATIONS: ICPC INVESTIGATION DEEPENS
Beyond the DSS prosecution, El-Rufai is also facing separate corruption and financial misconduct allegations being investigated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The allegations relate to his eight-year administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had earlier raised concerns over alleged financial irregularities involving approximately ₦432 billion during his administration.
The ICPC subsequently announced charges bordering on alleged money laundering, abuse of office, fraud, conversion of public property and conferring undue advantage.
The former governor has denied wrongdoing, while the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
COURT OF APPEAL PREVIOUSLY REJECTED HIS BAIL CHALLENGE
El-Rufai’s efforts to secure his release have also encountered legal setbacks.
On October 9, 2026, the Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna dismissed his challenge against the refusal of his second bail application by the Kaduna State High Court.
The three-member appellate panel unanimously held that the former governor had failed to establish fresh facts or special circumstances that would justify overturning the lower court’s decision.
The ruling upheld the Kaduna State High Court’s June 10 decision refusing his second bail application.
His legal team had argued that the offences were bailable and that his continued detention was affecting his ability to adequately prepare his defence, particularly his access to lawyers and potential witnesses.
The ICPC, however, opposed his application, maintaining that the lower court acted within the law.
BRIEF RELEASE FOR MOTHER’S BURIAL
El-Rufai was initially taken into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in February 2026 after honouring an invitation.
He was subsequently transferred to the ICPC on February 18 over allegations bordering on financial misconduct and abuse of office.
In March, he was temporarily released on compassionate grounds to attend the burial of his mother, Hajiya Umma, who died while receiving medical treatment in Egypt.
He later returned to the commission’s custody.
The ICPC has maintained that his detention was supported by relevant court orders, including remand proceedings and subsequent extensions.
POLITICAL MOTIVATION CLAIMS AND THE QUESTION OF FAIR TRIAL
The former governor, who remains a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has repeatedly questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest, investigation and continued detention.
He has alleged that his ordeal is politically motivated, although the authorities have maintained that the investigations and prosecutions are based on allegations requiring judicial determination.
El-Rufai has maintained that he is prepared to answer the allegations against him through the courts but insists that his constitutional rights must be respected throughout the process.
His decision to directly appeal to Trump, Macron, the United Nations, Amnesty International and other international institutions represents an attempt to attract greater international attention to his legal situation.
However, whether the international appeal will generate any formal intervention remains uncertain.
For now, the former governor’s legal battles continue before Nigerian courts, with the DSS case expected to resume on November 25.
The central issues remain the allegations against him, the prosecution’s evidence, his right to defend himself and the constitutional obligation to ensure that every accused person receives a fair trial.
Tarakirivoice Newspaper will continue to monitor developments in the case.
