NSCIA Raises Religious Bias Concerns Over El-Rufai Prosecution

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has raised concerns over what it described as possible religious bias in the ongoing prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

In a statement dated September 8, 2026, the council said it had previously refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding El-Rufai’s prosecution because it regarded the matter as a standard judicial process and trusted the judiciary to uphold justice.

However, the NSCIA said recent developments in the public domain had raised “serious concerns” suggesting possible external involvement driven by an underlying religious bias against the former governor.

The council, therefore, called on the Federal Government and the judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests were prevented from using public institutions or the legal system to pursue a sectarian agenda against El-Rufai.

It also appealed to members of the public to avoid inflammatory comments that could prejudice the former governor’s right to a fair trial or worsen the country’s security situation.

“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 NSCIA stressed that justice must be allowed to take its course, while urging all parties to act in ways that would preserve peace, stability and security in Nigeria.