EL-RUFAI FAMILY, SUPPORTERS PROTEST IN ABUJA OVER ALLEGED 91-DAY DETENTION

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Tension erupted in Abuja on Monday as family members of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alongside political allies and supporters, staged a protest at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS), demanding his release from what they described as prolonged and unlawful detention.

The protesters, which included members of El-Rufai’s family, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu Usman, and other loyalists, accused security agencies of violating subsisting court orders regarding his custody.

They alleged that despite court directives placing El-Rufai under the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), he was repeatedly moved between security agencies in breach of judicial instructions.

El-Rufai’s wife, Asia, who addressed journalists at the DSS facility, said the family had been living under fear and psychological pressure, alleging constant surveillance and threats.

“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 said.

She further claimed that the former governor had been moved to a DSS facility during a court break despite an ongoing hearing before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, where bail was reportedly granted and the matter adjourned.

According to her, El-Rufai insisted on being returned to ICPC custody in line with earlier court orders, questioning why he was instead taken to the DSS.

She also alleged that he had been denied access to personal physicians despite a separate court order permitting unrestricted access to legal and medical care.

El-Rufai’s son, Bello, a member of the House of Representatives, described the bail conditions as excessive and politically motivated, arguing that they were designed to make compliance difficult.

A spokesperson for the support group, Dr Uche Dialla, also condemned the situation, describing it as psychological torture and a violation of human rights principles.

He argued that repeated movement between agencies despite court custody orders amounted to continued detention under harsh conditions.

Efforts to obtain comments from the DSS spokesperson were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.