Party calls incident “political persecution” and demands immediate access
By Sandra Kenneth
ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing its operatives of physically assaulting the wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and arresting his personal physician during a medical visit.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said El-Rufai was scheduled for medical treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja.
“Hospitalization Rejected, Confrontation Ensued”
According to the ADC, hospital authorities advised that the former governor required immediate hospitalization due to deteriorating health. However, ICPC officials reportedly rejected the medical recommendation and insisted on returning him to detention.
The party claimed a physical confrontation followed after El-Rufai’s wife and his personal doctor protested the commission’s decision, resulting in an assault on his wife and the subsequent arrest of the physician.
“Assault on the Constitution”
Characterizing the incident as a direct violation of human rights, the ADC warned that the actions of the ICPC under President Bola Tinubu’s administration have overstepped legal enforcement, describing the detention as political persecution.
“The actions have gone beyond the realm of law enforcement to become an assault on the Constitution, human dignity, and the basic principles of justice,” the statement read.
ADC’s Demands
The party issued a list of demands to the federal government and the anti-graft agency: Immediate and Unrestricted Access: Granting El-Rufai immediate access to his family, legal team, and medical providers.
Review of Bail Terms: An urgent review of what the party described as “punitive and disproportionate” bail conditions to ensure they align with constitutional standards. Adherence to Custody Standards: Full compliance with constitutional and international standards governing human rights for detainees.
Institutional Transparency: Demanding complete transparency from the ICPC regarding the legal basis for his restrictions, alongside an immediate halt to using state institutions for selective justice and political intimidation.
As of press time, the ICPC is yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
