The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of using the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to persecute former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that his continued detention and treatment amount to political oppression.
The opposition party claimed that El-Rufai was denied access to proper medical care while in the custody of the anti-graft agency, despite concerns over his deteriorating health.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ADC alleged that El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment but was returned to custody against medical advice recommending that he be hospitalised.
The party further claimed that protests by El-Rufai’s wife and his personal physician over the decision led to a scuffle during which his wife was assaulted, while the doctor was subsequently arrested by ICPC operatives.
According to the ADC, the actions of the anti-graft agency have gone beyond legitimate law enforcement and now represent an assault on the Constitution, human dignity and the fundamental principles of justice and human rights.
The party described El-Rufai as a political prisoner, arguing that no democratic government that respects the rule of law should deny a detainee access to medical care or prevent close family members from seeing him, especially where a court had granted access to his lawyers, physician and relatives.
It alleged that the actions of the ICPC reflected a broader pattern of political persecution, warning that Nigeria was gradually sliding towards authoritarianism under the Tinubu administration.
The ADC said President Tinubu could not distance himself from the actions of anti-corruption agencies, insisting that, as President, he bears ultimate responsibility for the conduct of institutions under his administration.
The party also questioned the legal basis for the restrictions allegedly imposed on El-Rufai, demanding explanations over the denial of access to his family, the alleged refusal to allow him adequate medical care, and the arrest of his personal physician.
The ADC called for immediate and unrestricted access for El-Rufai to his wife, children, legal team and personal medical practitioners, as well as a review of what it described as punitive bail conditions imposed on the former governor.
It also demanded an end to what it called degrading and unnecessarily restrictive conditions of detention, full compliance with constitutional safeguards governing the treatment of detainees, greater transparency from the ICPC regarding its actions, and an end to the use of state institutions for political intimidation and selective justice.