The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised concerns over what they described as a controversial transfer of the former governor to the Department of State Services (DSS) custody after a court appearance in Abuja on Monday.
They alleged that the action by officials of the Department of State Services DSS came despite existing court orders directing that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC.
Wife alleges breach of court order and intimidation
Speaking to journalists outside a DSS facility, El-Rufai’s second wife, Hasiat, said the family had been living under fear due to constant threats and surveillance as reported by Vanguard.
“We now live in constant fear. Every day we get a threat — DSS is coming to raid your house, ICPC is coming to raid your house, police are coming to raid your house. You are being followed. Our phones are tapped,” she said.
She explained that El-Rufai had earlier appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he was granted bail and the case was adjourned to 1pm.
According to her, during the court break, he was briefly moved to DSS custody but resisted the transfer, insisting that two existing Kaduna court orders required that he remain with the ICPC.
“I am not furniture” — resistance during transfer
Hasiat recounted that El-Rufai objected strongly to being moved, saying:
“He said to them, 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, I am not a furniture to be moved,” she said.
She added that he was later returned to ICPC custody, but after the afternoon court session—where the prosecution sought an adjournment and the judge fixed proceedings for the next day—he was again taken toward DSS custody instead of being returned to ICPC.
As of her statement, she said el-Rufai had refused to leave the vehicle used to transport him.
“He told them that if you want to take me inside DSS custody, you will have to physically force me into doing this, because you had an agreement,” she said.
She also questioned the legality of the movement, adding that the judge had earlier directed that DSS and ICPC should resolve custody arrangements.
“What has changed?” she asked.
Allegations of medical neglect and 91-day detention
Hasiat further disclosed that El-Rufai, who has been in custody for 91 days, had been denied access to his personal physicians despite a court order from Justice Aikawa of the Kaduna State High Court granting him access to his lawyers and doctors.
She said an ICPC in-house doctor had recommended medical tests, after which arrangements were made for follow-up consultations, but these were allegedly not honoured.
“When you see a doctor and you run tests, you are expected to see the doctor back so that he explains what the problem is. He was denied access to the doctor because in their own explanation, they said Malam was not aware that the doctor was coming. I asked Malam — Malam said nobody told him,” she said.
Family demands return to ICPC custody
The family demanded his immediate return to ICPC custody in line with existing court orders, restoration of full medical access, and an end to what they described as psychological distress affecting both El-Rufai and his family.
Lawmaker alleges political motivation
El-Rufai’s son and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, criticised the bail conditions, describing them as deliberately restrictive and unrealistic.
“Who keeps a person for 91 days? Why were the terms of the bail so stringent that it is practically impossible for anybody to meet? Why do you have to say that Kaduna State Council of Chiefs will have to give an attestation? Why are we saying that it has to be a government staff of level 17, with a house in Asokoro or Maitama? Which civil servant has N100 million?”
He added that the case appeared politically motivated and said he would petition colleagues in the National Assembly over alleged misconduct by the ICPC.
Claims of psychological torture
Director General of the El-Rufai Support Group Association, Dr. Uche Dialla, described the situation as psychological torture, arguing that repeated transfers between agencies and courtrooms amounted to undue hardship.
“Torture is not just physical torture. When you take a man psychologically — he is in the custody of ICPC, and then he goes to court, and when there is a break you take him to another environment — that is psychological torture,” he said.
Calls for immediate release
Senator Lawal Adamu, representing Kaduna Central, also called for el-Rufai’s release, noting that he had returned voluntarily from Cairo to face questioning.
“He was outside this country. He was invited by the ICPC, and he flew all the way from Cairo back to Nigeria to submit himself. We are calling for his immediate release,” he said.
Security update
However, security sources confirmed that after consultations among legal representatives involved in the case, El-Rufai was eventually transferred back to ICPC custody as of 5pm on Monday.
