Release El-Rufai or Charge Him — Sultan Urges Tinubu, Questions US Troop Presence

By Abah Margaret

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has reportedly called on President Bola Tinubu to either release former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, or formally charge him in court.

The call was made during a sermon, details of which were shared in a video circulating online and relayed by Islamic scholar Sanusi Khalil.

According to Khalil, the Sultan emphasised the need for due process, stating that El-Rufai should either be arraigned before a competent court or granted bail while investigations continue.

“The Sultan is not saying a perpetrator should not be punished; rather, he is insisting that due process must be followed,” Khalil said.

Concerns Over US Military Presence

The Sultan also reportedly raised concerns about the deployment of American troops to Northern Nigeria.

He questioned whether the foreign forces were in the region for training purposes or if there were plans to establish a permanent military base.

“If a base is to be provided, why should it be located in Northern Nigeria?” the Sultan was quoted as asking.

Khalil expressed support for the monarch’s stance, noting that such critical questions are necessary for transparency and accountability.

ICPC Clarifies Detention

Meanwhile, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission clarified that El-Rufai’s continued detention is based on a valid court order.

Spokesperson Okor Odey stated that the commission appeared in court on Tuesday in response to an application filed by El-Rufai on March 6, seeking to overturn a remand order issued a day earlier.

“All actions taken so far were in strict compliance with the law, including the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015,” Odey said.

He added that the initial court order permitted 14 days of detention for investigation, which was subsequently extended by the court.