₦airaland Forum

Fresh political tension has emerged following reports surrounding former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is allegedly said to have been taken into custody by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The situation took a new turn when his wife publicly addressed journalists during a protest, calling for transparency, fairness, and due process in handling the matter. Her remarks have since triggered widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political space, with many demanding clarity on what is truly happening.

As the story continues to develop, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the alleged detention and its broader political implications.

👉 Watch the video below to see the full moment El-Rufai’s wife spoke out during the protest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SQidFBzRPU

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Let's discuss on this;

Barr Asiya Nasir El-Rufai The Second Wife of Nasir El-Rufai former Governor of Kaduna State. pic.twitter.com/n4fmAnY3lC

— Kabiru Salisu (@kabiru_msd) May 19, 2026

Family protest over El-Rufai’s detention by SSS, healthcare access, ICPC speaks

Family members of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday, protested at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja over his continued detention and alleged breach of court orders.

They were joined by the senator representing Kaduna Central, Lawal Adamu, and other supporters who demanded the immediate return of Mr El-Rufai to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The family said they were alarmed that the former governor was taken into SSS custody instead of returning him to the ICPC as ordered by the court.

They said two subsisting court orders from the High Court of Kaduna State required that he be remanded in ICPC custody.

Mr El-Rufai’s wife, Asiya El-Rufai, who spoke to journalists outside the SSS facility, said the family lived under constant fear and surveillance.

“We now live in constant fear. Every day we get a threat. DSS (SSS) 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,” said Mrs El-Rufai.

She said Mr El-Rufai appeared before Judge Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, who granted bail.

According to her, during the break, Mr El-Rufai was taken to the SSS facility, a move he resisted.

"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 a furniture to be moved,’” Mrs El-Rufai said.

She said Mr El-Rufai was later returned to ICPC custody but was again taken to the SSS after the afternoon session of the court.

As of the time she spoke, she said Mr El-Rufai had refused to step out of the vehicle on the SSS 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,” Mrs El-Rufai, the former governor’s first wife, said. “‘When Justice Abdulmalik said I should go to DSS in the first instance, we told her that there are subsisting orders. And she said, let DSS and ICPC go and decide who will keep him.” She said representatives of both agencies decided he should be taken to ICPC custody. “ What has changed?” she said.

Mrs El-Rufai also said the former governor had been in custody for 91 days and was being denied access to his personal doctors, despite a court order by Judge Aikawa of the Kaduna State High Court granting him access to lawyers and physicians.

She said the ICPC’s medical arrangements were also not followed.

“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. He was denied access to the doctor because in their own explanation, they said Malam was not aware that the doctor was coming. I asked Malam. Malam said nobody told him,” she said.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/880801-family-protest-over-el-rufais-detention-by-sss-healthcare-access-icpc-speaks.html

Cry me a river woman no tears don't move shit

It is well madam but your husband too dey talk anyhow.

U and your husband hell-rufai never seen anything yet. Una go hear am

I sincerely don't know why I feel so happy that El rufai is in costody ....

Maybe it's because of the he LL southern Kaduna people saw in his hands

Wicked.. useless.... Stupid government and Judiciary

How many Civil servants have a house in Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja that can stand for El Rufai ?

This is one Political witch hunting that Jagaban and the APC will regret...

The North will surely remember how they are treating Nasir El Rufai and other Northerners

That is the Nigerian court. For you. Wayward and useless money grobbing judges waiting for alert.

But a time will come those frustrating the law. Will definitely drink blood till they purge to death.

CHAI! The rich also cries. This is what El Rufai has put a lot of indigent people to.

How I wish protested when the same happened to people under your husband.

The barrister wife should have guided him prior to this time that you don't say anything at anytime you think you should say it without thinking of the consequences attached to it.

Hell Rufai is getting what he deserves.

In as much as I hate any political party intimidating people who are not with them... But El rufai too did even worse than this... Karma is a bitch

Ok where were you madam barrister when your evil husband was acting lije god and he dint stopped at that pls where were you when your husband was committing espionage crime by illegally tapping somebody phone in a country battling with insurgency?

You are lucky here is not China or Russia or Iran or North Korea or US by now your husband is a dead man for tapping National Security Adviser phone in a country struggling with insurgency.

Dem really mean to deal with mallam.

Where are all his fake supporters?

She should tell where they kept dadiyatas body , all these media protest won't work , your husband did worse when he was governor, you didn't protest then .

If truly the APC/Tinibu administration is seriously fighting corruption, everybody in this administration will be in detention right now. They know why they're punishing El-Rufia it is because he had refused to join camp with them if only he had, he would just have been another Okowa

#FreeElrufai Alhamdulillah

I can feel her pain. Sleeping alone in this cold weather

Madam, better get yourself a Chike because your husband won't be out till end of 2027.

You see this life ehn!
Whoever would have thought that one day a dictator like El Rufai will be at the receiving end of this same government!

Wike and all in power now should watch and learn.

tiswell:
Dem really mean to deal with mallam.

Where are all his fake supporters?

They have moved to NDC. They don't have business with him anymore.

SlavaUkraini:
Wicked.. useless.... Stupid government and Judiciary

How many Civil servants have a house in Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja that can stand for El Rufai ?

This is one Political witch hunting that Jagaban and the APC will regret...

The North will surely remember how they are treating Nasir El Rufai and other Northerners

He offended a fellow strong northerner by tapping the phone number of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. He's gone learn

SlavaUkraini:
Wicked.. useless.... Stupid government and Judiciary

How many Civil servants have a house in Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja that can stand for El Rufai ?

This is one Political witch hunting that Jagaban and the APC will regret...

The North will surely remember how they are treating Nasir El Rufai and other Northerners

I have no pity for him nor any Nigerian politicians behind bar, please check where did he stand when the Nigerian courts starts using these locations for bails

All the billions her husband stole why does she look so destitute?

Make friend with Remi Tinubu and his sins forgiven

Those Chiefdoms Mallam turned to Emirates are back to hunt him.

Ok she was so silent when her husband nearly finished the people of southern Kaduna this crocodile tears won't work no peace for wicked family

https://thenationonlineng.net/dadiyatas-wife-im-sad-about-el-rufais-son-mocking-my-husbands-abduction/

Dadiyata’s wife: I’m sad about el-Rufai’s son mocking my husband’s abduction

where is deepsight to twist the knife in my back

He played and important role in the emergence of the administration. Who knew that while he was answering away questions at Chatham house one day he’ll be recounting those answers in detention by this same government?

SlavaUkraini:
Wicked.. useless.... Stupid government and Judiciary

How many Civil servants have a house in Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja that can stand for El Rufai ?

This is one Political witch hunting that Jagaban and the APC will regret...

The North will surely remember how they are treating Nasir El Rufai and other Northerners

Someone said he tapped a whole NSA's phone on live TV, and here's Sukudi saying the north will remember. Some Nigerians are funny.

See why you must marry multiple wives and not just multiple professionals too

Chai. This is becoming worrisome.