Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the health and welfare of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai following reports that he allegedly suffered a nosebleed while in detention.
Reacting to claims made by El-Rufai’s media aide that the former governor experienced bleeding from the nose and that his family members were denied direct access to him, Atiku described the situation as troubling and inconsistent with democratic standards. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
He called on the Federal Government to clearly state which security agency currently has El-Rufai in custody, questioning whether he is being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), or any other law enforcement body.
According to Atiku, uncertainty surrounding the detention only fuels public suspicion, stressing that Nigerians deserve transparency regarding the circumstances of the former governor’s custody.
The former presidential candidate further stated that whichever agency is responsible has a constitutional obligation to guarantee El-Rufai’s safety, dignity, access to medical treatment, and the right to communicate with his family members and legal representatives.
He described reports suggesting that El-Rufai suffered a nosebleed while relatives were allegedly denied access to him as unacceptable in a democratic society.
Atiku also warned that if authorities are unable to guarantee El-Rufai’s health and fundamental rights, the appropriate and humane course of action would be to grant him bail without delay.
In addition, he raised concerns about what he termed a growing perception of selective prosecution, cautioning that anti-corruption campaigns must not be used as tools against political opponents.
According to him, the continued detention of the former Kaduna governor under unclear conditions raises questions about motive, emphasizing that justice must remain transparent and accountability should be applied evenly without political bias.