El-Rufai Being Prosecuted For Joining ADC — Okonkwo

A former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai is being persecuted because of his political affiliation.

Okonkwo made the claim on Friday while speaking on Morning Brief, a breakfast programme on Channels Television.

He criticised the continued detention of the former governor and called for his immediate release.

“I think principles is still in detention. What he asked is what a government has to keep anybody in detention without granting him bail. No, you don’t have that power,” Okonkwo said.

He argued that security agencies cannot detain a suspect while claiming they are still investigating.

“And you don’t have the power, according to Supreme Court judgment, to keep somebody in detention and pretend you are investigating,” he said.

“No, the whole idea of arrest is that you have concluded your investigation and you have found the person culpable for any crime you allegedly committed.”

Okonkwo stressed that accusations alone do not justify an arrest.

“That somebody said anything does not give you the right to go and arrest somebody,” he said.

He also noted that in criminal proceedings, the burden of proof lies with the prosecution.

“Because in criminal proceeding, it is the duty of the prosecution to prove the guilt of the suspect, not the suspect to defend his innocence,” he stated.

Okonkwo insisted that El-Rufai should be released while any legal process continues.

“So please, the first thing he should do is to release El-Rufai. And we are not saying he should not face trial, no. But his fundamental human rights should be guaranteed,” he said.

He further alleged that the former governor was being targeted because of his association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“And we believe that he is being maltreated, he is being persecuted because he has joined ADC,” Okonkwo said.

According to him, only the courts have the authority to determine guilt.

“But it is the court of law that should decide. Not the gulag of President Tinubu,” he added, referring to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

When asked whether he was accusing the president of being involved in the situation, Okonkwo said the responsibility ultimately rests with the head of government.

“He is the president. ICPC, EFCC, DSS, they are agencies of government,” he said, referencing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Department of State Services.

“They have their thing to do. But whose government? Whose regime? He is the head, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. And so anything the agencies are doing, the buck stops at his table.”

Okonkwo maintained that El-Rufai should face trial if any wrongdoing is established.

“That’s why I’m not saying that El-Rufai should not be tried by the courts. The court is the only power that has the power to deliver judgment,” he said.

He also criticised court orders allowing detention for investigation, describing them as unconstitutional.

“You are entitled to your liberty. You are entitled to your dignity. So no court should be giving orders for somebody who has not committed any capital offense to be detained indefinitely,” he said.

“That is illegal. And any such order is unconstitutional.”

He concluded by urging authorities to follow due process.

“So what I’m saying is that if El-Rufai committed any crime, please bring him to trial. Grant him bail so that if he’s convicted, fine,” he said.

“But for a president that has enlisted that he’s going to grab power, snatch it and run away with it, pretending that he’s democratic, that is really another transparent lie.”