NSCIA has raised concerns over alleged religious bias in Nasir El-Rufai’s prosecutions, warning against weaponising public institutions for sectarian interests.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised concerns over what it described as “an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias” in the ongoing prosecutions of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The organisation therefore called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to pursue what it described as a sectarian agenda against the former governor.
The NSCIA, in a statement by its Secretary-General and immediate-past Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, also appealed to the public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice El-Rufai’s fair trial or worsen the security situation in the country.
The statement, titled, “El-Rufai: Justice Should Be Seen Done!”, said the council had previously refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding the former governor’s ongoing prosecutions because it considered them part of a standard judicial process.
“The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has persistently refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding the ongoing prosecutions of His Excellency, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, or any political figure,” the statement read.
“The restraint was because the Council hitherto considered the prosecution as a standard judicial process and that the Judiciary has inherent capacity to uphold justice.
“However, recent developments in the public domain have raised serious concerns that strongly suggest an extraneous involvement of an underlying religious bias against the former Governor.”
The council consequently urged the Federal Government and the Judiciary to guard against the use of state institutions or the judicial process to advance religious interests.
“Consequently, the Council calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponizing public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him,” it said.
NSCIA also cautioned members of the public against comments capable of interfering with the judicial process or aggravating tensions in the country.
“Furthermore, the Council appeals to the general public to refrain from incendiary comments that could prejudice the fair trial of Mallam El-Rufai or exacerbate the security situation in our nation.
“May Almighty Allah grant peace, stability, and security to Nigeria.”