Former National Human Rights Commission chair Prof. Chidi Odinkalu says the recent detention of former Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman Danladi Umar, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai highlights how quickly political fortunes can change. In a post on X on Thursday, Odinkalu argues that few people would have predicted that the three figures, who were prominent in Nigerian politics and law, would end up in what he describes as “judicially-sanctioned administrative detention.” He says that at the start of 2023, such an outcome would likely have been dismissed as unrealistic or “mad.” Odinkalu also contends that those who support perceived injustice against opponents can unintentionally create precedents that later affect them or others. His broader message is that political power is temporary and that no condition is permanent for those using or abusing power, even if they believe they are acting with impunity.
Odinkalu says detention of Umar, Malami and El-Rufai shows power is temporary
Former National Human Rights Commission chair Prof. Chidi Odinkalu says the recent detention of former Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Chairman Danladi Umar, former Attorney-General of the Federation A...
- Prof. Chidi Odinkalu comments that Danladi Umar, Abubakar Malami and Nasir El-Rufai are in “judicially-sanctioned administrative detention.”
- Odinkalu says few people at the beginning of 2023 would have predicted their detention.
- He argues that supporting injustice against opponents can create precedents that later ensnare others.
- Odinkalu describes political power as transient and says no condition remains permanent.
- Odinkalu makes the remarks in a post on X dated Thursday.
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.
1 month agoFormer 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 […] ‘Anyone predicting Umar, Malami, El-Rufai’s detention would’ve been called mad’ — Odinkalu
1 month ago
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