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 fundamental rights.
Atiku issued the statement through the Atiku Media Office on Wednesday, following circulating rumors that the cleric had died in custody.
He noted that Sheikh Khalifa has reportedly been detained since December 2025 over allegations of involvement in a coup plot, yet has not been formally charged in any court.
Atiku condemned the prolonged detention as a violation of due process and a matter of serious constitutional and human rights concern.
He further highlighted that a standing order from the Federal High Court directing that the cleric be presented in court has reportedly been ignored, calling the action 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, and none has the power to treat the rights of citizens as privileges to be dispensed with at will,” the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said.
He further warned that the continued detention of Sheikh Khalifa – without access to his family, legal counsel, and adequate medical care – amounts to a gross violation of his constitutional rights.
Atiku cautioned that normalising such conduct by security agencies poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundations and risks eroding the fundamental rights guaranteed to all citizens.
He also expressed concern over growing public speculation surrounding the cleric’s condition, noting that the silence of the authorities has only deepened uncertainty and mistrust.
“Nigeria cannot continue to claim the status of a democracy while the rights of its citizens are routinely and brazenly violated,” he stated.
Atiku therefore called on the relevant security agencies to either release Sheikh Sani Khalifa immediately or charge him before a competent court without further delay, insisting that anything short of this constitutes unlawful detention and an abuse of power.