Former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on relevant security agencies to either immediately release or formally prosecute Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria, a prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, who has been held in detention without trial since December 2025.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Atiku Abubakar described the prolonged detention of the cleric as a breach of fundamental human rights and a potential violation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing fair hearing and personal liberty.
“Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria was arrested hale and hearty in Abuja in December 2025. He has reportedly been denied access to his family, legal representation, and proper medical care, while remaining in custody without being charged before any competent court,” the statement noted.
Atiku emphasized that justice and the rule of law demand that no citizen be subjected to indefinite detention without due process. He warned that such actions erode public confidence in security institutions and fuel speculation and mistrust.
The former Vice President, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), therefore urged the authorities “To either release Sheikh Sani Khalifa Zaria immediately or charge him before a competent court of law without further delay. Anything short of this amounts to unlawful detention and an abuse of power.”
Atiku Abubakar reiterated his commitment to the protection of human rights and the supremacy of the rule of law in Nigeria, stressing that every individual, regardless of status or affiliation, deserves fair treatment under the constitution.
He called on all stakeholders to ensure that security operations are conducted within the bounds of the law while upholding the rights and dignity of citizens.