Criticisms have followed the release of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from custody without recourse to the court that ordered his remand, highlighting the entrenched cultures of disregard for court orders and selective enforcement in the country.

Senior lawyer Femi Falana described the former governor’s release as illegal, saying it amounted to overruling the court.

“What they did is wrong and illegal. No agency or individual, no matter how powerful, can overrule the court. El-Rufai was detained pursuant to a court order, and only the court can reverse it,” Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone on Saturday.

Also, human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, and veteran journalist Richard Akinnola expressed surprise at the development in separate social media posts on Saturday.

Mr El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, announced his imminent release from custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on X late on Friday.