The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has questioned the handling of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufai’s corruption case, asking whether the prolonged legal battle is truly part of Nigeria’s fight against corruption or has become a political battle.
Sanusi raised the concern during an interview with Channels Television in Lagos at the public presentation of Unexplained Wealth: A Trilogy of Nigerian Financial Law, a three volume work authored by anti-corruption lawyer Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN.
The Emir said Nigeria already has laws, investigative agencies and courts to deal with corruption, but argued that the effectiveness of those laws depends largely on how they are implemented.
According to Sanusi, political influence can sometimes determine how corruption cases are pursued, alleging that some people accused of wrongdoing have escaped serious consequences because they have powerful political connections.
He said the country had seen cases where corruption charges against individuals were dropped because they belonged to the right political environment or had strong political backing.
Sanusi said this selective application of the law could damage public confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
He then pointed to El Rufai’s case, saying the former governor had spent months in detention without being convicted.
The Emir questioned whether such a situation could make Nigerians wonder about the real motive behind some corruption prosecutions.
He said the handling of cases like El Rufai’s could lead people to ask whether the government was genuinely fighting corruption or whether legal processes were being used in political battles.
Sanusi also stressed that having strong laws on paper was not enough.
He said politicians, public officials and members of the judiciary must ensure that existing laws are applied fairly and for the purposes for which they were created.
The Emir called for stronger institutions, saying investigators, prosecutors and courts must be able to perform their duties fairly and without political interference.
His comments come amid the continuing legal proceedings against El Rufai, who is facing corruption-related charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El Rufai has repeatedly sought bail. In June 2026, the Kaduna State High Court rejected his latest bail application on medical grounds after the court considered evidence concerning a medical report submitted in support of his request. The ICPC said the court ordered that El Rufai should continue to have access to his personal doctors and receive medical care as required.
A later review of the case NN News Media, learnt that El Rufai’s continued detention was tied to court decisions rather than an independent decision by the ICPC to keep him in custody.
Sanusi’s remarks therefore put the spotlight not only on El Rufai’s case but also on the wider question of whether Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws are being applied consistently.
He argued that reviewing laws on unexplained wealth was important, but said institutional reform was equally necessary.
The Emir warned that without stronger institutions and fair enforcement, political connections could continue to determine who faces the full weight of the law and who escapes accountability.
His central concern was that Nigeria cannot win the fight against corruption if citizens believe that justice depends on political loyalty or influence.
For Sanusi, the credibility of the anti-corruption campaign will ultimately depend on whether the same laws are applied fairly to everyone, regardless of political status or connections.
