Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Friday called on federal authorities and the Kaduna State Government to immediately release former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his continued detention before the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations as “cruel, unjustifiable, and deeply troubling.”

Atiku described the situation as a violation of civil liberties, democratic norms and the rule of law, and warned against the use of state institutions to intimidate perceived political opponents.

The position was contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

The former vice president, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, described El-Rufai’s continued detention as politically provocative and inconsistent with the principles of justice and democracy.

He said: “At a time when millions of Muslims across Nigeria and around the world are preparing to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir — a sacred season of sacrifice, compassion, forgiveness, and family reunion — it would be unconscionable for any government to weaponise state power in a manner that denies a citizen his liberty without just cause, particularly in circumstances that raise legitimate concerns about political persecution.

“Eid is a time for mercy, reconciliation, and humanity. There is absolutely no justification for keeping a man away from his family during such a solemn and spiritually significant occasion, especially where due process has not been clearly demonstrated.

“I therefore call for the immediate release of Mallam El-Rufai and urge all relevant authorities to rise above political bitterness and act in the interest of justice, peace, and national cohesion.”

Atiku said the Federal Government and Kaduna State authorities must ensure that democracy is judged by how fairly perceived opponents are treated, warning that selective justice undermines confidence in the rule of law.

He said that if the former Kaduna governor is being detained through a legal process, authorities should be transparent with Nigerians.

“Mallam El-Rufai, regardless of political differences or shifting alliances, remains a Nigerian citizen entitled to the full protection of the Constitution, including his rights to dignity, liberty, and due process.

“Democracy does not grant the government the licence to punish dissent, settle political scores, or deploy coercive institutions as instruments of intimidation.

“The Federal Government and the Kaduna State authorities must understand that selective justice is injustice. The credibility of any democracy is measured not by how it treats loyalists, but by how it treats perceived opponents,” he said.

The demand comes one week after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission announced that a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted El-Rufai access to medical treatment while in custody.

The ruling followed a plea by defence counsel during proceedings in the ongoing trial of the former governor over alleged money laundering and corruption-related offences.

El-Rufai and co-defendant Joel Adoga are facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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The Lagos State Government has raised alarm over the growing sand depletion deposits across the state, warning that unchecked dredging activities could worsen construction costs, damage aquatic ecosystems and threaten food security.

“We need proper data. We need to know how many people are dredging, how much sand is being dredged daily, and what is left within those areas,” the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, said during the ministry’s two-year scorecard presentation at the annual ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre.

Alebiosu said increasing demand for sand used in reclamation and infrastructure projects, particularly within the Lekki-Ajah corridor, had intensified pressure on available deposits across Lagos.

According to him, developers handling reclamation projects in Lekki and Ajah now source sand from communities as far as Ikorodu, pumping materials across distances of between 10km and 12km because deposits in closer locations are becoming exhausted.

He said the development confirmed fears that sand resources around Ajah were gradually running out, stressing that the state government has become more cautious in issuing dredging licences and permits.

The commissioner warned that the continued depletion of sand reserves could significantly increase the cost of construction and infrastructure delivery in Lagos, thereby placing additional pressure on housing and urban development.

He also linked indiscriminate dredging to threats to food security, especially in fishing communities that depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems for their livelihoods.

“It is putting food security at risk. We are encouraging people to consume more protein, such as fish, but whenever dredging disturbs aquatic life, fishermen are forced to work harder, and naturally, the cost of fish goes up,” he said.

According to Alebiosu, aggressive dredging disrupts aquatic microorganisms and marine habitats, forcing fishermen to travel farther and spend more resources before making catches.

The commissioner further disclosed that host communities are increasingly facing infrastructural damage caused by heavy-duty dredging equipment and commercial activities associated with sand excavation.

He cited Ibese as one of the affected communities where roads and public infrastructure have reportedly deteriorated due to dredging operations.

Alebiosu said the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development remains the agency legally empowered to regulate dredging and sand dealing activities in Lagos State.

He added that the ministry collaborates with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, as well as host communities, to tackle illegal dredging through monitoring, enforcement and whistleblowing mechanisms.

The commissioner also urged residents to support enforcement efforts by reporting illegal dredging activities, noting that some operators deliberately conceal their activities to evade detection.

“We cannot continue blaming foreigners alone. We must ask ourselves how they got there in the first place. They definitely have the connivance of some locals,” he said.

The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to stricter regulation of dredging activities to curb environmental degradation, protect waterfront communities and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources across the state.

A statement released later on Thursday by the Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Morenikeji Akodu, noted that commissioner warned that the increasing desperation for sand across Lagos was already exposing the dangers of over-exploitation of waterways and coastal resources.

He also warned that the development pointed to mounting pressure on available sand deposits across the state and underscored the need for stricter regulation and proper monitoring of dredging activities.