El-Rufai’s Family, Senator Storm DSS, Allege Political Torture Over Detention

The detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai took a dramatic turn on Monday as members of his family, political associates, and supporters staged a protest at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing security agencies of subjecting him to “politically motivated psychological torture” and disregarding valid court orders.

The protesters expressed anger over the decision to allegedly move the former governor into DSS custody instead of keeping him with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), despite what they described as clear directives from the court.

Speaking emotionally outside the DSS headquarters, El-Rufai’s first wife, Asia Nasir, said the family had been living under intense fear and intimidation since the former governor’s arrest, claiming they were constantly threatened with raids by different security agencies.

“We now live in constant fear,” she declared, alleging that security operatives continuously trail family members, monitor their movements, and tap their phones. She stated.”

According to her, the family now wakes daily to threats of possible invasions by the DSS, ICPC, or the police, creating what she described as an atmosphere of psychological torment around the former governor’s household.

She narrated that earlier in the day, El-Rufai appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, where he was granted bail before proceedings were adjourned until 1pm

However, during the break in proceedings, security operatives allegedly attempted to move him to the DSS facility , a move the former governor openly challenged, questioning why authorities were trying to transfer him in violation of the court orders.“He told them clearly that he was not an object to be moved around at will,” she said.

She however said , he was eventually returned to the ICPC after protesting the move, but the situation escalated again during the afternoon court session when the prosecution sought an adjournment and the matter was fixed for the following day.

At the time the family addressed journalists, Asia also condemned the development, accusing security agencies of violating the understanding reached before Justice AbdulMalik after concerns were raised over conflicting court directives.

According to her, when the issue of custody arose in court, the judge had directed both the DSS and ICPC to determine among themselves where the former governor would be held.

She said both agencies eventually agreed that he should remain in ICPC custody, making the latest move to transfer him back to DSS both shocking and suspicious.

The family further accused authorities of violating another court order which granted El-Rufai unrestricted access to his lawyers and personal physicians during detention.

El-Rufia’ spouse revealed that despite being in custody for 91 days, the former governor had repeatedly been denied access to his doctors, even after medical concerns were raised.

She explained that an in-house doctor attached to the ICPC had recommended medical tests for El-Rufai and agreed that his personal doctors would later return to explain the results to him.

However, according to her, security officials later blocked the doctors from seeing him again, claiming he was unaware they were coming.

She described the explanation as both false and inhumane, insisting that denying a patient access to doctors after conducting medical tests was unacceptable and a violation of his fundamental rights.

The family demanded his immediate return to ICPC custody in compliance with existing court orders, restoration of unrestricted access to his doctors, and an end to what they called sustained psychological harassment targeted at both El-Rufai and his family members.

Also speaking during the protest, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu, called for El-Rufai’s immediate release, stressing that the former governor voluntarily returned to Nigeria from Cairo after honouring an invitation by the ICPC.

The senator argued that a man who willingly returned to face investigators should not be subjected to prolonged detention and what he described as political persecution.

According to him, the continued detention and treatment of the former governor had gone beyond legal procedure and now appeared to be deliberate psychological harassment driven by politics.

Adding his voice, El-Rufai’s son and member of the House of Representatives, Bello El-Rufai, questioned the strict bail conditions imposed on his father, describing them as unrealistic and deliberately designed to prevent his release.

He criticised conditions requiring endorsements from the Kaduna State Council of Chiefs as well as sureties who must be level 17 civil servants with properties in elite Abuja districts such as Asokoro or Maitama.

Bello argued that such conditions were practically impossible for ordinary Nigerians to meet and suggested they were carefully crafted to discourage anyone from standing surety for the former governor.

He also accused the ICPC of issuing misleading statements regarding the case, alleging that the commission had previously lied about aspects of his father’s detention.

The lawmaker disclosed plans to submit a formal petition before the House of Representatives over what he termed abuse of legal process, intimidation, and politically motivated persecution.

Meanwhile, Director-General of the El-Rufai Support Group Association, Dr. Uche Dialla, described the situation as a clear case of psychological torture, insisting that the repeated transfers between security agencies and courtrooms were intended to mentally destabilize the former governor.

Dialla argued that torture was not limited to physical violence alone, noting that emotional and psychological distress inflicted through uncertainty, intimidation, and repeated displacement also amounted to torture under international conventions.

He maintained that because El-Rufai’s personal belongings, clothing, and daily essentials remained at the ICPC facility where he had initially been confined by court order, any attempt to keep moving him between agencies outside that arrangement amounted to deliberate mental punishment.

According to him, the entire process reflected a calculated effort to humiliate and psychologically weaken the former governor under the guise of investigation.