The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned what it describes as the worsening treatment of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, following reports that officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) denied him access to medical care, arrested his personal physician and assaulted his wife during a visit to the National Hospital, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Teusday, the party said it was "deeply alarmed" by reports that El-Rufai, who was scheduled to receive medical treatment at the National Hospital, was prevented from being admitted despite medical advice recommending hospitalisation due to his deteriorating health.

According to the ADC, ICPC officials allegedly insisted on returning El-Rufai to custody against the recommendation of medical personnel. The party further alleged that protests by his personal physician and his wife resulted in a confrontation during which his wife was physically assaulted while the doctor was arrested.

The party described the reported incident as evidence that the actions of the ICPC and the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have "gone beyond the realm of law enforcement" and now constitute "an assault on the Constitution, human dignity and the most basic principles of justice and human rights."

"The world should know today that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is holding a political prisoner in Nigeria by the name of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai," the statement said.

The ADC argued that no democratic government committed to the rule of law should deny a detainee access to medical care or prevent close family members from visiting, particularly where courts have granted unrestricted access to legal counsel, physicians and family members.

According to the party, such actions are more consistent with authoritarian governments that use state institutions to suppress political opponents than with democratic governance.

The party said the matter extends beyond the circumstances of one individual and raises broader concerns about constitutional democracy, the independence of law enforcement institutions and the protection of fundamental rights in Nigeria.

"This is no longer about Mallam El-Rufai alone. It is about whether Nigeria remains a constitutional democracy or has descended into a republic where law enforcement agencies have become instruments of political persecution," the statement read.

Reiterating an earlier warning, the ADC added: "Today it is El-Rufai. Tomorrow it could be any Nigerian whose only offence is to disagree with those who wield power."

The opposition party also called on the ICPC to explain the legal basis for the reported restrictions placed on El-Rufai, including the denial of access to his family and physician, as well as the alleged assault on his wife and arrest of his doctor.

The statement further held President Tinubu accountable for the actions of federal anti-corruption agencies, arguing that constitutional responsibility ultimately rests with the President.

"Every day that Mallam El-Rufai remains in custody under these circumstances is another day that Bola Tinubu keeps criminalising political opposition instead of confronting the grave crises of insecurity, unemployment, inflation and hunger confronting millions of Nigerians," the party stated.

 ADC's Demands

The African Democratic Congress called for:

1) Immediate and unrestricted access for Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai to his wife, children, legal team and personal medical practitioners.
2)  An urgent review of the bail conditions imposed on him to ensure they conform with constitutional provisions and the principle that bail is intended to secure attendance at trial rather than punish before conviction.
3)  An immediate end to what it described as harsh, degrading and unnecessarily restrictive detention conditions, and his release from what it called "a regime of political persecution masquerading as lawful process."
4) Full compliance with constitutional guarantees and internationally recognised standards governing the treatment of persons in custody.
5)  Complete transparency from the ICPC regarding the legal and factual basis for every restriction imposed on him.
6)  An end to the use of state institutions as instruments of political intimidation, vendetta and selective justice.