Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release of Kaduna-based cleric, Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, describing his ongoing detention without trial as a serious violation of his constitutional rights.

Sheikh Khalifa has reportedly been held since December 2025 over alleged involvement in a coup plot but has not been formally charged in any court. In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Atiku emphasized that the prolonged detention without due process raises significant constitutional and human rights concerns.

Atiku highlighted that a standing order from the Federal High Court, directing that Sheikh Khalifa be presented in court, has allegedly been ignored. He described this as a direct affront to the rule of law and judicial authority.

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“There can be no democracy without strict adherence to the rule of law. No security agency is above the Constitution, and none has the power to treat the rights of citizens as privileges to be dispensed with at will,” Atiku said.

He also expressed alarm over reports that Sheikh Khalifa has been denied access to his family, legal counsel, and adequate medical care, calling it a gross violation of his fundamental rights. Atiku warned that normalizing such actions by security agencies poses a threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundations.

Citing growing public concern and speculation over the cleric’s condition, Atiku urged the relevant authorities to either release Sheikh Khalifa immediately or formally charge him before a competent court without further delay, insisting that any other action amounts to unlawful detention and abuse of power.

The former Vice President’s statement underscores mounting calls for transparency and adherence to legal procedures in the handling of high-profile detentions in Nigeria.

LUKMAN ABDULMALIK
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