‘Anyone predicting Umar, Malami, El-Rufai’s detention would’ve been called mad’ — Odinkalu

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said the recent detention of former Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Chairman Danladi Umar, ex-Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, underscores the transient nature of political power.

In a post on his X account on Thursday, Odinkalu said few people would have believed at the beginning of 2023 that the three prominent figures would all be in what he described as “judicially-sanctioned administrative detention” in Nigeria.

According to him, supporting injustice against perceived opponents often creates precedents that can later ensnare those who once benefited from them.

“If you told anyone at the beginning of 2023 that Danladi Umar, @aamalamiSAN, & @elrufai will all be in judicially-sanctioned administrative detention in #Nigeria, the person could have pronounced you mad, & justifiably too.

“But here we are.

“The terrible thing about supporting injustice is the precedent you gloat at because it afflicts your enemy can come back to ensnare you.

“Power is transient & – for those abusing it today – No condition is permanent,” Odinkalu wrote.