Nigeria, Sept. 10 -- The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has broken its silence on the legal battles of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that extraneous religious interests appear to be influencing his trial.

In a press statement signed by its secretary-general, Is-haq Oloyede, the Nigerian apex Islamic body urged the government and the Judiciary to prevent individuals with sectarian agendas from weaponising public institutions against the former governor.

The council stated that it refrained from commenting on the matter, viewing the legal proceedings as a standard judicial process, and trusting the court system to uphold justice.

"The restraint was because the Council hitherto considered the...