Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun, urging the National Judicial Council to act on his petition against a Federal High Court judge he accuses of bias against his allies.
The move comes amid growing concern over what the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, described as the “blatant persecution of political opponents,” warning that selective prosecution of figures aligned with opposition parties threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s rule of law and undermines public confidence in the justice system.
The former governor has been engaged in an ongoing dispute with the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since his return to Nigeria on February 12, 2026.
While he honoured the EFCC invitation on February 16 and was detained, the former governor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress got administrative bail on February 18 and was taken into custody by the ICPC since then.
He was also due to be arraigned by the DSS over the alleged wire-tapping of the telephone line of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai, in a letter dated March 9, 2026, and addressed to the CJN in her capacity as chairman of the NJC, asked the council to urgently act on his petition against Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court.
In the letter, El-Rufai said the correspondence was a second reminder of a petition he filed against the judge on February 12, 2025.
The former governor complained that more than a year after filing the petition, he had yet to receive any update from the council despite earlier assurances.
“With the deepest respect for Your Lordship’s esteemed office and unwavering commitment to judicial excellence, I write this second reminder to earnestly seek an immediate update on the above-referenced petition,” El-Rufai wrote.
He added, “More than one year has now elapsed since its submission in February 2025, nearly one year since Your Lordship’s assurance in March 2025 that appropriate action was underway, and over four months since my first reminder in November 2025, yet no further communication has been forthcoming from the National Judicial Council.”
El-Rufai said his complaint, filed under the NJC Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, accused Justice Aikawa of bias and denial of fair hearing in matters involving individuals linked to his administration in Kaduna State.
According to him, the judge’s actions were “wholly unbecoming of a judicial officer.”
He stated, “I lodged this complaint in strict adherence to the NJC Judicial Discipline Regulations 2017, highlighting Hon. Justice RM Aikawa’s profound bias, denial of fair hearing, and conduct wholly unbecoming of a judicial officer — actions that, in my considered view, render him unfit to administer justice in a civilised society.”
The former governor further alleged that the judge continued to preside over cases involving former officials of the Kaduna State Government despite the pending petition.
“Regrettably, no invitation has been extended for the additional details I pledged to provide, even as Justice Aikawa persists in presiding over cases involving my former colleagues from the Kaduna State Government,” he stated.
El-Rufai also criticised some of the judge’s rulings, claiming they allowed evidence that should not have been admitted under the law.
“His rulings, which include the admission of evidence patently inadmissible under the Evidence Act, continue to inflict unwarranted harm on innocent individuals solely due to their prior association with me,” he wrote.
He warned that prolonged delays in addressing complaints against judicial officers could undermine public confidence in the justice system.
“This delay not only enables such improprieties but also undermines the foundational principle that justice delivery is rooted in public confidence,” he said.
The former governor, therefore, urged the CJN to expedite the resolution of the petition and take interim measures to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.
“I therefore urge, with the utmost respect and firmness, that the NJC expedite the resolution of this petition without further delay,” he wrote.
El-Rufai also requested that cases before Justice Aikawa, particularly those involving the current Kaduna State administration, be reassigned to another judge.
“As a prudent interim measure… I implore Your Lordship to direct the immediate transfer of all relevant cases before the Federal High Court, Kaduna — particularly those in which the current Governor of Kaduna State and his administration have expressed interest — to another judge of unimpeachable standing,” he added.
Raising concerns over what he termed blatant persecution of political opponents disguised as criminal prosecution, Obi, in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, said, “The current administration must put an end to the blatant persecution of political opponents disguised as criminal prosecution.
“The recent arrests and continued detention of key leaders from the African Democracy Congress (ADC), namely Mr Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation, and Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, are worrisome.
“The timing of their arrests, coinciding with their commitment to ensure the current administration is voted out in 2027, raises serious questions.
“The methods used in their apprehension contradict the principles of the rule of law. Prosecutorial decisions must be grounded in concrete evidence and probable cause, transparently presented without ulterior motives.
“The undue denial of bail or unjustly stringent conditions imposed on bail leave little doubt that the government is wielding criminal prosecution as a weapon against its political opponents.”
Obi added that the situation surrounding Malam El-Rufai was particularly concerning, adding that his repeated transfers between the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS suggested a desperate search for any charge that might stick, straying dangerously close to a fishing expedition rather than a credible investigation.
“I firmly believe that Nigeria requires a civil and criminal justice system that instils confidence in every citizen—that no one should fear persecution for their political beliefs or actions disapproved by those in power.
“The criminal trial process must adhere strictly to legal standards.
“As we approach a critical election period, the government must cease its efforts to undermine political opponents under the pretence of battling corruption and wrongdoing,” he added.
The presidential aspirant on the ADC platform said while he supported the fight against corruption and wrongdoing, it must, however, be conducted with integrity and transparency, starting with those currently in power rather than targeting opponents.
In this article