El-Rufai detention sparks protest in Abuja as family and supporters allege rights violations and psychological harassment

Tension erupted in Abuja on Monday as family members, political associates and supporters of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai staged a protest at the headquarters of the Department of State Services over his continued detention.

Also read: El-Rufai Presses NJC over Delayed Action on Judge

The protesters, which included Senator Lawal Adamu Usman and other loyalists, accused security authorities of violating existing court directives by allegedly moving El-Rufai from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to a DSS facility.

The demonstration followed growing concerns by the family over what they described as the former governor’s prolonged detention, which they said had lasted 91 days.

They also alleged repeated denial of access to medical care, legal rights and personal physicians despite subsisting court orders.

Speaking outside the DSS headquarters, El-Rufai’s second wife, Asia, said the family had been subjected to intimidation, surveillance and threats from security agencies.

“We now live in constant fear. Every day we get a threat — DSS, ICPC and police are coming to raid your house. You are being followed. Our phones are tapped,” she alleged.

Asia recounted that earlier on Monday, El-Rufai appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he was granted bail before the matter was adjourned until 1 p.m.

According to her, the former governor was later moved briefly to a DSS facility during the court break, despite insisting that Kaduna court orders required that he remain under ICPC custody.

“I remember him saying, ‘I am not going to step down because there are two court orders that the Kaduna court gave that I should be remanded in ICPC. Why are you bringing me here?’ He said that he is not a piece of furniture to be moved,” she told journalists.

Asia questioned why the former governor was returned to the DSS instead of being taken back to the ICPC facility after the case was adjourned.

She also alleged that El-Rufai had been denied access to his personal doctors despite an order by Justice Aikawa of the Kaduna State High Court granting him unrestricted access to medical care and legal counsel.

According to her, arrangements made through the ICPC for medical consultations later collapsed.

“When a doctor runs tests, you are expected to go back so that he can explain what the problem is. He was denied access to the doctor because in their explanation, they said Malam was not aware that the doctor was coming.

“But Malam said nobody told him that,” she added.

The family demanded that El-Rufai be returned immediately to ICPC custody in compliance with existing court orders and called for an end to what they described as psychological harassment.

Senator Lawal Adamu said the former governor deserved to be granted bail on self-recognition.

“What is happening is psychological harassment because of politics,” the senator alleged.

Also speaking, El-Rufai’s son and member of the House of Representatives, Bello El-Rufai, criticised the bail conditions imposed on the former governor, describing them as excessively stringent and politically motivated.

“Who keeps a person for 91 days and why were the terms of the bail so stringent that it is practically impossible for anybody to meet?” he queried.

Bello further questioned requirements allegedly demanding attestation from the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and sureties with high-ranking civil service status and properties in Abuja’s upscale districts.

Director-General of the El-Rufai Support Group Association, Dr Uche Dialla, also described the situation as psychological torture.

According to him, transferring El-Rufai between agencies despite court orders amounted to emotional and mental distress.

“His bag and toothbrush are with ICPC. El-Rufai is not there by choice. He was confined there by the orders of a court,” Dialla said.

Also read: El-Rufai’s Mother Dies, Family Announces Death

Efforts to obtain a response from DSS spokesperson Favour Dozie were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.