El-Rufai’s family alleges political persecution as ex-governor resists DSS transfer

Fresh controversy has erupted over the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as members of his family accused security agencies of subjecting him to psychological torture and violating subsisting court orders regarding his custody and medical access.

Speaking to journalists, Hasiat el-Rufai narrated how the former governor allegedly resisted an attempt to move him from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to the Department of State Services (DSS), insisting that existing court orders mandated that he remain with the anti-graft agency.

According to her, el-Rufai questioned the basis for the transfer and refused to leave the vehicle conveying him to the DSS facility.

“He said he was not a piece of furniture to be moved around despite existing court orders directing that he remain in ICPC custody,” she stated.

Hasiat explained that after an earlier court session, el-Rufai had initially been returned to the ICPC facility. However, following the afternoon proceedings — during which the prosecution sought an adjournment and the court fixed the matter for the next day — he was again taken to the DSS facility instead of the ICPC office.

Read also: ICPC denies political witch-hunt, says El-Rufai yet to meet bail conditions

She maintained that the decision contradicted an earlier understanding reached after Justice AbdulMalik reportedly directed both agencies to determine who should retain custody of the former governor.

The family further alleged that el-Rufai, who they said had spent 91 days in detention, had also been denied access to his personal doctors despite a Kaduna High Court order granting him unrestricted access to his lawyers and physicians.

Hasiat disclosed that after medical tests recommended by an ICPC doctor, arrangements were made for his personal physicians to return and discuss the results with him, but the visit allegedly did not take place.

She described the development as a violation of the court’s directive and accused authorities of deliberately frustrating his medical care.

The family demanded that the former governor be returned to ICPC custody in line with existing court orders, restored access to his doctors, and an end to what they termed continued intimidation and emotional pressure on both el-Rufai and his relatives.

Also reacting, el-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, alleged that the case against his father was politically motivated.
He criticised the bail conditions imposed on the former governor, arguing that they were deliberately structured to make his release practically impossible.

Bello questioned requirements reportedly demanding guarantors from the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and senior civil servants with high-value properties in Abuja districts such as Maitama and Asokoro.

He argued that the stringent conditions raised concerns about fairness and suggested an attempt to discourage potential sureties from coming forward.