El-Rufai: NSCIA alleges religious bias, demands justice

El-Rufai: NSCIA alleges religious bias, demands justice …warns against weaponising judiciary, public institutions for sectarian agenda The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised concerns about what it described as possible religious bias in the ongoing prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. NSCIA urged the federal government and the Judiciary to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done. The Council said it had deliberately refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding El-Rufai's prosecution, as well as on cases involving other political figures, because it initially believed the matter was a routine judicial process the courts could handle fairly. However, the NSCIA said recent developments in the public domain had raised serious concerns about extraneous influences, including an alleged underlying religious bias against the former governor. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, also known as the Kuliyan Sokoto, said the Council was concerned that individuals with vested religious interests could exploit public institutions and the legal system to pursue sectarian objectives. The statement said, '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 NSCIA therefore called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to guard against any attempt to weaponise the country's institutions or judicial process against El-Rufai or any other individual on religious grounds. 'The Council calls upon the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests are strictly prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to execute a sectarian agenda against him,' the statement said. The Council also appealed to members of the public to avoid inflammatory comments that could prejudice the former Kaduna governor's fair trial or worsen the country's security situation. According to the NSCIA, Nigerians must protect the integrity of the judicial process and exercise restraint in comments that could heighten religious tension. The Islamic body stressed the need for fairness, justice, and neutrality in handling all matters before the courts, regardless of the political, ethnic, or religious background of those involved. The Council prayed for peace, stability and security in the country. 'May Almighty Allah grant peace, stability, and security to Nigeria,' the statement added.