Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called for the immediate release or prosecution of Kaduna-based cleric Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, describing his continued detention without trial as a violation of fundamental human rights.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Atiku said Sheikh Khalifa has reportedly been in custody since December 2025 over allegations of involvement in a coup plot but has not been formally charged before any court.
The former vice president expressed concern over what he described as prolonged detention without due process, warning that it raises serious constitutional and human rights issues.
He further alleged that a subsisting order of the Federal High Court directing that the cleric be presented in court has not been complied with, calling it a direct affront to the rule of law and judicial authority.
“There can be no democracy without strict adherence to the rule of law. No security agency is above the Constitution,” Atiku said.
He also warned that holding the cleric without access to his family, legal counsel, and adequate medical care amounts to a gross violation of his rights.
Atiku cautioned that such actions, if unchecked, could undermine Nigeria’s democratic foundations and erode citizens’ confidence in the rule of law.
He noted that the lack of official communication regarding the cleric’s condition has fueled public concern and speculation.
The former vice president therefore urged relevant security agencies to either release Sheikh Khalifa immediately or charge him before a competent court without further delay.
He stressed that anything short of this amounts to unlawful detention and an abuse of power.