In 2019, as President Muhammadu Buhari sought re-election, it became clear that the judicial system was being used to intimidate government critics.
A key example was the case of Steven Kefas, a vocal activist in Southern Kaduna. He was abducted by authorities on the orders of Governor Nasir el-Rufai and held in detention on false charges. Despite his lawyers’ attempts to get him released, a judge ruled against his bail, and the process became a symbol of the misuse of power.
Similarly, in 2019, Odinkalu, a critic of el-Rufai, faced charges of incitement and falsehood after publicly rebutting el-Rufai’s claims about a massacre. Even though the case lacked proper charges, authorities attempted to arrest him, prompting legal action. However, the judge handling the case dismissed it on technical grounds, despite admitting to a lack of jurisdiction, which led to the dismissal of the case and punitive costs.
Such manipulation of the judicial process became routine under el-Rufai’s leadership, leading to continued persecution of citizens. While Odinkalu was eventually fortunate enough to avoid unjust detention, Steven Kefas was not. Kefas endured 162 days in prison before his release.
In a related case, four bloggers—Precious Eze, Olawale Olurotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—are facing prosecution after publishing content about Guarantee Trust Bank (GTBank). The bank filed a complaint accusing them of cyberbullying, extortion, and causing a breach of peace, even though the bloggers had removed the content when notified. The police investigation was completed in just four days, and the suspects have been held in custody for more than 90 days, far exceeding the legal limit for pre-trial detention. Despite the lack of evidence, GTBank has used its influence to secure a powerful legal team to prosecute the bloggers.
This case highlights the dangers of powerful corporations abusing the legal system to silence critics. However, citizens now have the tools to challenge such abuses, and it is not too late for GTBank to reconsider its actions.
