By Clement John
ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress on Friday accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of denying its leaders access to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The opposition party said the development had heightened concerns over alleged political persecution, particularly following claims by members of El-Rufai’s family that he had been denied access to doctors, food and visitors despite voluntarily honouring the agency’s invitation.
The allegations were contained in a statement issued by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, after a party delegation led by the ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside Abdullahi and Salihu Lukman, visited the ICPC headquarters but was allegedly refused access to the former governor.
The party also alleged that tension increased at the anti-graft agency’s premises during the visit, claiming that three truckloads of armed police officers were deployed while the delegation awaited a response to its request.
“It is deeply troubling that a simple request by senior party officials to visit a detained colleague was met, not with professionalism, but with a show of force more suited to the suppression of civil unrest,” the statement said.
According to the ADC, members of the delegation remained peaceful throughout the visit and neither threatened disorder nor mobilised supporters to the premises.
“At no point did members of our delegation threaten disorder, incite confrontation, or mobilise supporters to the premises. Yet the response of the state suggested panic, fear, and an attempt to intimidate not only our party leaders, but also any Nigerian who may dare to question the treatment being meted out to opposition figures,” the party stated.
The ADC further alleged that El-Rufai was being subjected to “punishment by process” and “intimidation through isolation.”
The party disclosed that Aregbesola had earlier written formally to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights to El-Rufai amid growing concerns over his wellbeing.
It also claimed that members of El-Rufai’s family had raised concerns over alleged restrictions on medical access and visits.
“Only days ago, Hajiya Asia El-Rufai publicly alleged that her husband was denied access to his doctor and that she was prevented from delivering food to him while in custody after arriving at the facility in the evening,” Abdullahi said.
While acknowledging that the ICPC had denied the allegations and insisted that due process was being followed, the ADC maintained that the refusal to grant access to El-Rufai was fuelling public suspicion over the nature of his detention.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities. Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access and fair treatment under the law,” the party said.
The ADC demanded immediate and unrestricted access to El-Rufai by his family, lawyers, doctors and political associates, warning that continued restrictions would deepen public perception that state institutions were being used to target opposition figures.
“The ADC will not stand by and watch one of its leaders subjected to this pattern of harassment and calculated humiliation.
Nigeria is watching. The international community is watching.
The world is watching,” the statement added.
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