Frank Questions Alleged Russian Doctor’s Visit To El-Rufai In Detention

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has questioned the alleged visit of a Russian doctor to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), raising concerns over the former governor’s safety and treatment.

Frank made the allegation in a statement released on Friday, claiming that a DSS official informed him that the foreign doctor visited El-Rufai around 9:45 p.m. after authorities allegedly said he required urgent medical attention.

According to Frank, El-Rufai initially resisted the examination but was later compelled to undergo the medical check.

“A DSS official reached out to me to reliably confirm that a Russian doctor visited Mallam Nasir El-Rufai at about 9:45 p.m. under the claim that he was ill and required medical attention,” he said.

Frank questioned why a foreign doctor would allegedly be brought in at night if El-Rufai genuinely needed treatment, insisting that the development had raised serious suspicion.

“If Mallam El-Rufai is truly ill, why bring in a foreign doctor at that time of the night? Sneaking him in under the guise of being a doctor or a mercenary posing as a doctor to carry out this dirty job raises serious questions,” he alleged.

He maintained that El-Rufai appeared healthy during his last court appearance and argued that any medical treatment should ordinarily have been based on the former governor’s consent or request.

“The Mallam El-Rufai many Nigerians saw during his last court appearance looked healthy and stable. If medical attention was genuinely required, shouldn’t it have been at his own request?” Frank queried.

The former APC spokesman said the alleged appearance of the doctor had deepened fears following what he described as earlier intelligence reports of a plot against El-Rufai.

Frank also questioned what he called the “desperation” surrounding the former governor’s detention, asking whether President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, were politically threatened by him.

He further recalled El-Rufai’s role in the emergence of the current administration, noting that the former governor played a critical role during the 2023 elections.

According to him, El-Rufai had not attempted to evade security agencies, stressing that he voluntarily presented himself after returning to Nigeria from Egypt.

“It is also clear to every reasonable observer that Mallam El-Rufai is not on the run. In fact, he voluntarily presented himself to security agencies immediately upon his return to Nigeria from Egypt,” he said.

Frank identified the foreign doctor as “Dr Dmitriy,” alleging that the examination was conducted without proper consultation with El-Rufai or members of his family.

He also claimed that despite an alleged subsisting order for El-Rufai to remain with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), he was hurriedly moved back into DSS custody.

While reiterating support for the anti-corruption war, Frank insisted that due process and the rule of law must prevail.

He called on the Nigerian Bar Association, northern elders, youths, civil society organisations and the international community to demand El-Rufai’s immediate release.

“If urgent action is not taken, there are growing fears that Mallam El-Rufai may either be brought out dead, released only to die later at home, or kept in prolonged detention until after the 2027 general elections,” he alleged.