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.