The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of applying selective justice in the handling of legal cases involving two former senior government officials — Nasir El-Rufai and Abubakar Malami.
In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said recent developments surrounding the two men have raised serious public concerns about fairness, consistency and respect for the rule of law.
The party said it has been closely monitoring the legal cases involving Malami, who served as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State.
The ADC stated clearly that it believes no Nigerian is above the law, regardless of position or past office.
“As a law-abiding party, it is important to state for the record that the ADC believes no citizen, regardless of stature or past office, is above the law,” Abdullahi said.
However, the party stressed that justice must be applied evenly and transparently.
“In a constitutional democracy where the law is seen to operate selectively, it becomes imperative to insist that justice must be applied evenly, transparently, and without political calculation,” the statement added.
According to the ADC, the manner, speed and sequence of enforcement actions taken against the two former officials have raised concerns about whether the law is being applied fairly across political lines.
One of the major concerns raised by the party is what it described as the rapid movement of Malami and El-Rufai between different law enforcement agencies while investigations are still ongoing.
The ADC argued that in a democracy governed by the rule of law, arrests and custody should follow well-prepared charges and clear evidence.
“Custody must follow credible, well-prepared charges, not precede them in a manner that creates the appearance of pre-trial punishment,” the party said.
The statement suggested that the sequence of arrests and transfers from one agency to another could create the impression that the two men are being punished before formal charges are fully established in court.
The party called on authorities to ensure that any evidence against the former officials is presented openly before a competent court of law.
“If there is evidence against Malami, prosecute him transparently. If there is evidence against El-Rufai, present it before the court and allow the law to take its course,” the ADC stated.
El-Rufai and Malami both served in key positions during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
El-Rufai was governor of Kaduna State for eight years and was known for controversial reforms, especially in education and public service. Malami served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice for the same period and was involved in several high-profile legal and anti-corruption cases.
Since the end of the Buhari administration, Nigeria’s political landscape has shifted. President Tinubu’s government has promised to strengthen institutions and fight corruption, but opposition parties have repeatedly warned against using anti-corruption agencies for political purposes.
Political observers say tensions between the ruling party and opposition figures have increased as new alliances and party realignments take shape ahead of future elections.
The ADC also drew attention to what it described as a contrasting high-profile case involving allegations of passport forgery, international conspiracy and impersonation.
According to the party, in that case, the accused persons pleaded not guilty, were granted bail and the matter is progressing quickly in court.
“These are not minor procedural questions. They touch on issues of national integrity and international credibility,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that under the Nigerian Constitution, every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
“That presumption should not be treated as a courtesy, but as a constitutional guarantee,” the party added.
The comparison, the ADC said, highlights what it sees as differences in how certain cases are handled.
The issue of selective justice is not new in Nigeria’s political history.
Successive governments have faced accusations from opposition parties that anti-corruption agencies sometimes focus more on political opponents while overlooking allies.
Civil society groups have often called for stronger independence for law enforcement agencies to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are based strictly on evidence.
The ADC said it will continue to stand by its members as they pursue their legal rights.
“We will ensure that they are not isolated, intimidated, or denied the protections that every Nigerian citizen is entitled to under the law,” the party stated.
The party did not deny that investigations may continue but insisted that all actions must be transparent and in line with constitutional provisions.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the Federal Government regarding the ADC’s claims of selective justice.
However, government officials have repeatedly stated in the past that anti-corruption efforts are guided by law and not by political considerations.
