Atiku Abubakar Demands Immediate Release of Cleric Detained Over Alleged Coup Plot
Former Vice President and prominent figure of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a strong statement calling for the immediate release of Kaduna-based cleric Sheikh Sani Abdulkadir Zaria Khalifa. The religious leader has been detained over allegations linking him to a coup plot targeting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration.
Violation of Fundamental Rights Alleged
In his statement released on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Atiku Abubakar described Sheikh Khalifa's continued detention without trial as a grave violation of fundamental human rights. The former presidential candidate emphasized that security agencies have ignored a subsisting Federal High Court order directing that the cleric be presented in court, an action Atiku characterized as a direct affront to judicial authority and the rule of law.
"There can be no democracy without strict adherence to the rule of law," Atiku declared in his statement. "No security agency is above the Constitution, and none has the power to treat the rights of citizens as privileges to be dispensed with at will."
Background of the Detention
Sheikh Khalifa was reportedly detained by security agents in Abuja in December 2025 after traveling from Zaria to address an unexplained freeze on his bank account. According to family members and associates, the cleric's ordeal began when his bank account was suddenly closed without written notice. When he attempted to resolve the issue at the Zaria branch, bank officials directed him to the institution's headquarters in Abuja, where security operatives took him into custody.
Sources familiar with the investigation indicate that the religious leader's detention is linked to a N2 million transfer sent to his account by one of the suspected coup plotters. The alleged plot targeted President Tinubu's administration, though specific details remain undisclosed by authorities.
Growing Concerns Over Democratic Erosion
Atiku expressed deep concern about the implications of Sheikh Khalifa's detention for Nigeria's democratic foundations. He cautioned that normalizing such conduct by security agencies poses a significant threat to the country's democratic institutions and risks eroding the fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens under the Constitution.
The former Vice President also highlighted reports that Sheikh Khalifa has been detained without access to his family, legal counsel, and adequate medical care, describing these conditions as amounting to a gross violation of constitutional rights.
Call for Transparency and Due Process
Atiku Abubakar called on relevant security agencies to either release Sheikh Khalifa immediately or charge him before a competent court without further delay. He emphasized that anything short of this constitutes unlawful detention and an abuse of power, undermining public trust in democratic institutions.
"Nigeria cannot continue to claim the status of a democracy while the rights of its citizens are routinely and brazenly violated," Atiku stated in his strongly-worded message to authorities.
Context of Political Tensions
This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tensions in Nigeria, with various opposition figures expressing concerns about the treatment of citizens by security agencies. The case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for religious freedom, judicial independence, and democratic governance in Africa's most populous nation.
Atiku's intervention marks a significant political statement from a leading opposition figure, highlighting ongoing debates about the balance between national security concerns and the protection of civil liberties in Nigeria's evolving democratic landscape.
