Some legal practitioners have criticised the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over its decision to release former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, despite a subsisting court order remanding him in custody.
The development has generated controversy within legal circles, with critics describing the action as a disregard for judicial authority and due process.
El-Rufai was reportedly released on Friday to enable him attend the burial of his mother, who passed away the same day. However, the move has raised concerns following an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Kaduna, which on March 24 ordered that he remain in ICPC custody pending the hearing of his bail application.
Prior to the latest court order, the former governor had been in detention for over a month based on an earlier directive from another court.
The March 24 remand order followed his arraignment on 10 counts of alleged corruption, reinforcing the court’s position that he remain in custody until his bail application is determined.
Reacting to the development, some lawyers argued that the ICPC’s decision undermines the authority of the court, noting that no agency has the discretion to act contrary to a valid court order without first seeking its variation.
They maintained that the appropriate legal step would have been to approach the court for temporary release or request an accelerated hearing of the bail application, rather than unilaterally granting release.
The situation has sparked wider concerns about adherence to the rule of law, with observers warning that selective compliance with court orders could weaken public confidence in the justice system.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued a detailed response addressing the criticisms surrounding the release.
