By Nworisa Michael
Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has called for an immediate end to arrests without evidence and the detention of citizens before investigation, warning that such practices are undermining Nigeria’s democracy and eroding public trust in governance.
El-Rufai made the remarks on Thursday, January 22, 2026, while speaking virtually from Brussels at the 23rd Daily Trust Dialogue, where he addressed the theme, “Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: What Is Working and What Is Not.”
According to him, the increasing use of prolonged detention, selective prosecution and arrests without due process reflects a dangerous departure from the rule of law. He warned that law enforcement agencies are gradually being deployed for regime protection rather than the preservation of democracy.
“Arrests without evidence must end. Detention before investigation must end. Governing by intimidation rather than institutions must end,” El-Rufai said, stressing that the justice system, which should serve as a shield for citizens, has become a source of fear for many Nigerians.
The former governor noted that prolonged detention, investigative fishing expeditions and selective enforcement of the law have weakened confidence in the courts and deepened public cynicism toward state institutions. He warned that when arrests and prosecutions are perceived as politically motivated, democracy suffers lasting damage.
El-Rufai added that although the courts remain the last refuge for many Nigerians who feel persecuted, growing doubts about judicial independence pose a serious threat to the stability of the republic. He argued that when justice is compromised, the foundations of democratic governance are weakened.
Situating his comments within Nigeria’s broader insecurity and governance challenges, El-Rufai said the erosion of civil liberties has compounded public frustration already driven by economic hardship and social exclusion. According to him, no democracy can endure where fear replaces accountability and institutions are subordinated to political interests.
He cautioned that unless the current trend is reversed, public faith particularly among young Nigerians will continue to decline, with grave consequences for the survival of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
The former governor called on political leaders to choose reform over repression, warning that stability cannot be achieved through intimidation. “The choice before us as politicians is not stability, but reform. It is reform now or instability sooner or later,” he said.
El-Rufai’s comments come amid ongoing corruption investigations involving several former governors and ministers who served during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, with multiple high-profile cases currently before the courts.