‘I DESERVE A FAIR TRIAL, NOT FAVOUR’ — EL-RUFAI SEEKS TRUMP, MACRON’S ATTENTION AS DETENTION HITS 256 DAYS

By NaijaParrot | October 30, 2026 

Abuja, Nigeria 

 Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron to draw attention to his ongoing legal battles, insisting that he deserves a fair trial as his detention reaches 256 days. El-Rufai made the appeal on Friday through a post on his official X account, tagging the two foreign leaders alongside international organisations and media platforms. 

 In the message, the former governor described access to justice as a fundamental human right, stressing that a fair hearing should never be treated as a favour granted by those in authority. 

 He wrote that he had spent exactly 256 days in detention, adding that human rights are not privileges and that a fair trial is not an act of mercy. His appeal appears aimed at attracting international attention to the circumstances surrounding his continued detention and the criminal proceedings against him.

The renewed appeal comes days after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed El-Rufai’s no-case submission in the criminal case involving allegations of unlawful interception of telephone communications linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. In its October 26 ruling, the court held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require the former governor to enter his defence if he wished to do so. 

 The ruling does not amount to a conviction. El-Rufai retains the right to challenge the allegations and present his defence as the trial continues. 

 The former governor is also facing investigations and separate legal proceedings over alleged financial misconduct connected to his administration in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. The allegations include claims relating to the management of public funds and an alleged money-laundering scheme. El-Rufai has challenged the accusations and maintains his position in the ongoing legal process. 

 The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is handling some of the financial allegations, while the Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the separate telephone-interception case. It is important to note that these remain allegations and must be determined through the courts.

 El-Rufai’s continued detention has also been affected by previous court decisions concerning his bail applications. On October 9, the Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna dismissed his appeal against the refusal of bail by the Kaduna State High Court. The appellate court held that he had not presented fresh facts or special circumstances sufficient to overturn the earlier decision. 

However, the court emphasised that the ruling did not determine his guilt or innocence in the criminal cases. The former governor was briefly released in March to attend his mother’s funeral before returning to custody.

 By tagging Trump and Macron, El-Rufai has taken his concerns beyond Nigeria’s domestic political space, drawing attention to the human-rights dimension of his ongoing legal situation. 

 His latest statement has renewed public discussion about the balance between the enforcement of anti-corruption laws, the rights of accused persons and the constitutional requirement for fair and timely trials. 

 While the former governor is entitled to challenge his detention and demand due process, the allegations against him must also be resolved through the established judicial process. As the proceedings continue, attention will remain on the courts, the prosecution and the defence as Nigerians await further developments. 

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