• Media personnel urges electorate to avenge el-Rufai’s treatment

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) permission to play selected portions of its closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the N10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai.
   
In a ruling on separate applications, Justice Chigozie Onah declined el-Rufai’s request for the complete footage, which reportedly spans over six hours, but limited each side to 20 minutes to play portions of the recordings in open court.
   
However, media personnel Mohammed Doka has urged Nigerians to use their votes in the 2027 general elections to express their displeasure over the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
   
Doka, in a statement on el-Rufai’s X account yesterday, described the former governor as a “caged lion” and urged his supporters and Nigerians to resist intimidation, remain peaceful and mobilise voters ahead of the elections. 
   
Meanwhile, the judge also agreed with the ICPC’s counsel, Yetunde Mosunmola, that the footage contained sensitive security information that could expose the commission’s facility to security risks if played in full in open court.
   
Justice Onah further held that if the complete footage had to be viewed, it could be played in his chambers. However, he rejected el-Rufai’s application seeking the attendance of two ICPC officials who deposed to affidavits in the commission’s processes for cross-examination.
   
According to him, fundamental rights enforcement proceedings are sui generis and that the case would be determined on affidavit evidence.
   
Therefore, Justice Onah directed that the selected portions of the footage be played at 1 pm and adjourned the matter until November 3 for the definite hearing of the substantive applications.
   
Nevertheless, Doka alleged that el-Rufai’s continued detention had taken on a political dimension, claiming that it reflected concerns among some political actors about the former governor’s influence ahead of the 2027 polls.
   
According to him, the former governor’s detention had fuelled public frustration, as some political figures wanted him kept in custody until after the 2027 elections.