Rights advocate charges Nigerian Senate to reveal El-Rufai’s security report

A human rights advocate, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has summoned the Nigerian Senate to state categorically the exact security violation contained in El-Rufai’s report that warrants his nomination rejection as minister.

The advocacy group explained that the former Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was denied clearance without any detail of his offense, noting that such method was neither constitutional nor democratic.

It highlighted the need for transparency in the Senate by enlightening members of the public about the misdemeanor of El-Rufai.

The full statement read, “The former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai was recently denied clearance as a ministerial nominee by the Nigerian Senate on 5th August, 2023 citing a security report. This report is yet to surface weeks after the controversial screening.

“Whereas two other ministerial nominees, Stella Okotete (Delta State), and Abubakar Danladi (Taraba State), whose clearance were delayed by Senate for some reasons have since been cleared, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s fate still remains clouded in mystery as details of the security report on him have not been revealed.

“Worse still, while the two cleared ministers were told their offences in clear terms, El-Rufai’s offence was not revealed. Neither was he allowed to defend himself. This method is unknown to democratic practice, alien to the rule of law, repugnant to global best practices and terra incognito to natural justice, fairness and equity. The 10th Senate has a burden on its conscious until it does the needful.

“We aver that democracy thrives in a transparent environment and anything shrouded in secrecy contradicts the principles of transparency, probity and accountability. It amounts to disenfranchisement for Senate members who were elected by the Nigerian electorate to deprive the same people who elected them of knowledge of such vital information as what is contained in the security report. Senate must come clean or be deemed responsible for the ‘mysterious’ report.

“We therefore ask the Nigerian Senate to, without delay, reveal the exact security breach contained in the security report over which the clearance of the former governor of Kaduna State was denied.”