The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has broken its silence on the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that external and religious forces are behind the prolonged legal ordeal. In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the council urged the Federal Government and the judiciary to ensure that no sectarian agenda influences the case.
NSCIA's Shift from Routine Judicial Process to Public Concern
The council's Secretary-General, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, explained that the NSCIA had deliberately avoided commenting on the matter earlier, viewing the prosecution as a routine judicial process. However, recent public developments, particularly remarks by Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa (rtd.), forced a change in that position.
Musa, in a recent interview, alleged that El-Rufai had planned killings in Southern Kaduna during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. He described the security situation in the state during that period as "toxic" and said residents of Southern Kaduna remained deeply aggrieved over the violence recorded under El-Rufai's watch. The Defence Minister further argued that the former governor's actions deepened divisions and worsened insecurity in Kaduna State.
El-Rufai's Family Rejects Allegations, Issues Ultimatum
El-Rufai's family swiftly rejected the allegations in a statement signed by his eldest son, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai. The family said it was "seriously concerned" by the Defence Minister's comments and issued a seven-day ultimatum, demanding that Musa either produce evidence supporting every claim or issue a public retraction.
The NSCIA's statement, as reported by Daily Trust, said the Defence Minister's remarks and the wider public discourse had raised "serious concerns that strongly suggest an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias against the former Governor." The council called on federal authorities and the judiciary to ensure that "individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him."
Call for Public Restraint and Institutional Fairness
The NSCIA also urged members of the public to avoid inflammatory comments that could compromise the fairness of El-Rufai's trial or worsen the country's security climate. The council closed its statement with a prayer: "May Almighty Allah grant peace, stability, and security to Nigeria."
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Supreme Council for Shari'ah in Nigeria also voiced concern over El-Rufai's continued detention. The former governor is facing separate charges from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged fraud, abuse of office, and unlawful phone tapping. The Shari'ah Council urged authorities to follow due process and warned that arbitrary actions could erode public trust in Nigerian institutions.
