Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has strongly criticised the Federal Government over what he described as a deepening culture of unlawful detention, warning that the trend is damaging Nigeria’s democracy and weakening public confidence in state institutions.
Speaking on Thursday at the 23rd Annual Trust Dialogue in Abuja, El-Rufai said the increasing use of detention without court orders runs contrary to the rule of law and undermines the very foundations of democratic governance.
He argued that the justice system should exist to protect citizens, not intimidate them, stressing that fear has gradually replaced trust in the relationship between the state and the people.
“The law should protect citizens, not terrify them like what is happening in Nigeria. Detention without court order must end,” El-Rufai said.
According to the former Federal Capital Territory minister, holding individuals without due process amounts to a violation of fundamental human rights and contradicts the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which clearly outlines the limits of state power.
El-Rufai further warned that no society can make meaningful progress when security agencies operate outside legal boundaries, adding that the misuse of state authority to harass or suppress citizens ultimately erodes democratic institutions and weakens national stability.
