The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Monday described ongoing legal actions involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami as selective justice, saying both men are being treated unfairly compared with other public figures.
Selective justice allegations arise when individuals or groups claim that anti-corruption or enforcement agencies pursue certain public officials while leaving others unexamined.
In Nigeria, high-profile prosecutions and investigations have periodically drawn commentary from political parties and civil society about fairness and equity in the application of laws.
The ADC’s statement comes amid ongoing legal matters involving former officials.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, the ADC said that El-Rufai and Malami have been “victims of selective justice.”
The party claimed that both men have been pursued through legal processes in ways that the ADC described as inconsistent with the treatment of other officials accused of misconduct.
The ADC cited recent court cases and investigations involving El-Rufai and Malami to support its statement.
It said that legal processes against the former governor and ex-attorney general differ from how some other public figures with alleged misconduct records are handled by relevant authorities.
The party noted that El-Rufai has been arraigned in relation to a count of alleged abuse of office and diversion of public funds.
In Malami’s case, the ADC referred to ongoing legal proceedings involving allegations of fraud linked to the Office of the Attorney General while he held that position.
The statement said that many Nigerians perceive a disparity in how corruption cases are pursued by anti-graft agencies and the judiciary.
The ADC said these perceptions weaken confidence in the justice system and called for equal application of the law to all public officials.
The party urged relevant government agencies to ensure transparency and fairness in all anti-graft actions, saying that selective application of laws erodes trust in governance institutions.
It did not provide specific examples of other public figures it believes have avoided similar scrutiny.
The ADC’s allegations contribute to public discourse on accountability and the rule of law in Nigeria. Claims of selective justice may influence perceptions of how anti-corruption agencies and courts handle high-profile cases involving senior public officials.
For political stakeholders, statements from parties like the ADC can shape debates around legal processes and governance ethics.
They may prompt legal institutions and anti-graft agencies to clarify their procedures or reinforce public communication about ongoing cases to address perceptions of bias.
For citizens and civil society, discussions about fairness in prosecutions tie into broader concerns about institutional integrity and equitable enforcement of laws, particularly in the context of anti-corruption efforts and public sector accountability.
