El-Rufai’s Family Raises Alarm Over Alleged DSS Detention After Court Session
The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised concerns after officials of the Department of State Services allegedly took him into custody following proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.
According to the family, the action violated existing court orders directing that the former governor remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Speaking outside the DSS facility, el-Rufai’s second wife, Hasiat, said the family had been living under constant fear, threats and surveillance since his detention.
“We now live in constant fear. Every day we get threats that DSS is coming to raid the house, ICPC is coming, or the police are coming. We are being followed and our phones are tapped,” she alleged.
She explained that el-Rufai had earlier appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, where he was granted bail and the matter adjourned until 1 p.m.
According to her, during the court break, security officials attempted to move him to the DSS facility, a move he reportedly resisted on the grounds that there were two subsisting court orders from a Kaduna court directing that he remain in ICPC custody.
“He told them, ‘I am not furniture to be moved around,’” she recounted.
Hasiat said he was later returned to the ICPC, but after the afternoon court session, during which the prosecution sought another adjournment, he was allegedly brought back to the DSS facility instead of the ICPC.
She disclosed that as of the time she spoke, the former governor had refused to leave the vehicle transporting him into the DSS premises.
“He said if they wanted him inside DSS custody, they would have to physically force him because there was already an agreement,” she said.
The family also accused authorities of denying el-Rufai access to his personal doctors despite an earlier court order granting him unrestricted access to both his lawyers and physicians.
According to Hasiat, the ICPC’s in-house doctor had recommended further medical tests, after which his doctors were expected to return and explain the results to him, but they were allegedly prevented from seeing him.
“When you run medical tests, the doctor is supposed to come back and explain the findings. But they denied him access,” she said.
The family demanded that el-Rufai be immediately returned to ICPC custody in line with existing court orders, that he be allowed access to his doctors, and that what they described as psychological intimidation against him and his family should stop.
His son, Bello El-Rufai, described the entire situation as politically motivated.
He questioned the strict bail conditions imposed on his father, arguing that they appeared designed to make his release difficult.
“Who keeps a person for 91 days? Why are the bail conditions practically impossible to meet?” he asked.
Bello also accused the ICPC of issuing misleading statements and said he planned to submit a formal petition before the House of Representatives.
Director-General of the El-Rufai Support Group Association, Dr. Uche Dialla, described the treatment of the former governor as psychological torture.
According to him, repeatedly moving el-Rufai between agencies and detention facilities while he remained under court orders amounted to deliberate mental harassment.
Senator Lawal Adamu also called for the immediate release of the former governor, noting that he voluntarily returned to Nigeria from Cairo after being invited by the ICPC.
“He was outside the country and willingly came back to submit himself to the authorities. What is happening is political harassment,” the senator said.
However, security sources later confirmed that after discussions among lawyers involved in the matter, el-Rufai was eventually returned to ICPC custody later on Monday.
