The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, has called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to ensure that justice is seen to be done in the ongoing prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai.
In a statement signed by Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Secretary-General of the Council, on behalf of the NSCIA, the Council said it had persistently refrained from commenting on the controversy surrounding the prosecution of El-Rufai and other political figures.
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Professor Oloyede explained that the Council initially considered the prosecution to be a standard judicial process and had confidence in the capacity of the Judiciary to uphold justice.
He, however, said recent developments in the public domain had raised serious concerns that strongly suggested possible extraneous involvement and an underlying religious bias against the former governor.
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The NSCIA therefore called on the Federal Government and the Judiciary to ensure that individuals with vested religious interests were prevented from weaponising public institutions or the legal system to pursue what it described as a sectarian agenda against Mallam El-Rufai.
The Council also appealed to the general public to refrain from making incendiary comments that could prejudice the former governor’s right to a fair trial or further exacerbate the security situation in the country.
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The NSCIA stressed the need for restraint, due process and fairness in handling the matter, while urging all stakeholders to avoid actions or statements capable of inflaming tensions.
The Council prayed for peace, stability and security in Nigeria.