Atiku faults prolonged detention of Kaduna Islamic scholar

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pressed for the immediate release or formal prosecution of Kaduna-based cleric, Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, over his prolonged detention without trial.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Atiku described the cleric’s continued custody since December 2025 as a breach of fundamental human rights.

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According to the statement shared on X by his aide, Paul Ibe, Sheikh Khalifa is being held over alleged links to a coup plot but has yet to be formally arraigned before any court.

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The former vice president expressed concern that the situation raises serious constitutional and human rights issues, especially as a standing order from the Federal High Court directing that the cleric be brought before the court has reportedly not been complied with.

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“There can be no democracy without strict adherence to the rule of law. No security agency is above the Constitution, and none has the power to treat the rights of citizens as privileges to be dispensed with at will,” the statement read.

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Atiku warned that detaining the cleric without access to his family, legal representation, and proper medical care constitutes a violation of his constitutional rights.

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He added that such conduct by security agencies could weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions and erode civil liberties.

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The former vice president also noted growing public anxiety over the cleric’s wellbeing, saying the lack of official communication has fueled uncertainty and distrust.

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“Nigeria cannot continue to claim the status of a democracy while the rights of its citizens are routinely and brazenly violated,” he stated.

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Atiku therefore called on security agencies to either free Sheikh Sani Khalifa immediately or bring him before a competent court without delay, insisting that any alternative amounts to unlawful detention and abuse of authority.

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Sheikh Khalifa has remained in custody since his arrest in Abuja in December 2025.

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His detention is reportedly tied to an alleged N2 million transfer into his account from a military officer said to be connected to a purported plot against the administration of Bola Tinubu.

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In February, a Federal High Court in Abuja criticised the continued detention of the cleric by the Defence Intelligence Agency.

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Justice Peter Lifu also ordered the federal government to produce Abdulkadir in court on February 18.

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The ruling followed a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the cleric’s legal team, which argued that his arrest and detention were unlawful and violated his rights to personal liberty, dignity, and fair hearing.

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However, counsel to the DIA, I.O. Odom, told the court that an order authorising the detention had been secured under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act but failed to present the document.

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He explained that the relevant paperwork was with the chairman of a Special Investigation Panel, who was reportedly outside the country.

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