Kano emir questions consistency of Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign

The Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, has questioned the consistency of Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign, alleging that political connections may influence the handling of cases. Sanusi made the comments during an interview with Channels Television on Monday at the launch of a book by senior advocate Wahab Shittu in Lagos. He said laws alone could not combat corruption without independent institutions capable of investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating cases fairly.

The emir alleged that some cases had been abandoned because suspects belonged to the “right political environment” or had political support. He said such selective prosecution weakened public confidence in the rule of law. Sanusi cited the case of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom he described as his brother.

He said El-Rufai had been detained for seven months without being convicted and had been denied bail. The emir said the treatment of cases raised questions about whether the anti-corruption campaign was genuinely focused on corruption or was being used against political opponents. He argued that citizens would continue to doubt legal proceedings if similar cases were handled differently.

Sanusi called for politicians and judicial authorities to apply the law for its intended purpose rather than for political expediency. He also said institutions must be strengthened so that they can enforce existing laws without bias. El-Rufai is facing trial over allegations of corruption and money laundering, charges he continues to contest in court, according to the source material.

The report also said he recently claimed that former allies and associates had distanced themselves since his detention.