Family members of Nasir el-Rufai on Monday accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of violating existing court orders regarding the detention of the former Kaduna governor.
The family staged a protest outside the DSS headquarters in Abuja following reports that el-Rufai had been taken into the agency’s custody.
Asia el-Rufai, the former governor’s second wife, said the situation had left the family living in fear and emotional distress.
“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.
According to her, el-Rufai had earlier appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, who granted him bail and adjourned proceedings until 1pm.
Asia said that during the break, the former governor was briefly moved to a DSS facility despite two court orders directing that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
She said el-Rufai challenged the transfer, insisting that the DSS had no right to move him from ICPC custody.
“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 furniture to be moved,” she stated.
Asia explained that although el-Rufai was initially returned to the ICPC, he was later taken back to the DSS facility after the afternoon court session.
She alleged that he refused to leave the vehicle conveying him to the DSS premises.
“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 added.
She further claimed that the judge had instructed the DSS and ICPC to determine which agency would retain custody of the former governor pending further proceedings.
Asia also alleged that el-Rufai had been denied access to his personal doctors despite a Kaduna high court order allowing unrestricted access to legal counsel and physicians.
According to her, the ICPC’s in-house doctor had recommended medical tests and agreed that el-Rufai’s doctors would later review the results with him, but the arrangement was allegedly ignored.
“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,” she said.
The family called for el-Rufai’s immediate return to ICPC custody, restoration of access to his doctors, and an end to what they described as psychological intimidation.
Bello el-Rufai, member of the House of Representatives and son of the former governor, described the case as politically driven.
He also criticised the bail conditions imposed on his father, arguing that they were excessively difficult to meet.
“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?” he asked.
Bello further accused the ICPC of issuing misleading statements and disclosed plans to submit a formal petition to the House of Representatives over the matter.