The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded clarification from security authorities over reports that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, allegedly suffered a bleeding nose while in detention, raising fears of possible brutalisation or denial of medical care.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, said the group was worried about the circumstances surrounding the incident and questioned whether it was responsible for El-Rufai’s absence in court on the day he was expected to be arraigned.
Akintola noted that there had been no official explanation from authorities regarding the reported incident.
According to him, “El-Rufai’s bleeding nose may be as a result of brutalisation in custody or due to denial of access to his medicine. We also want to know if this ugly development was responsible for his absence in court on the day of his expected arraignment.”
The group stressed that the welfare and security of all detainees remained a collective responsibility, adding that civil society organisations must continue to scrutinise the actions of security agencies to ensure accountability.
MURIC said the reported condition of the former governor naturally raised concerns, given his status as a former minister and state chief executive.
“Mallam El-Rufai is a respected citizen of this country and deserves decent treatment regardless of the charges against him,” Akintola said, noting that the courts remain the appropriate forum for determining the merit of any allegations.
The organisation also expressed concern over reports that El-Rufai’s wife was prevented from handing food directly to him while in custody, describing the development as troubling.
Akintola urged security agencies handling the case to demonstrate professionalism and respect for human rights, warning that heavy-handed treatment of detainees could erode public trust.
He further reminded authorities of the provisions of Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture or degrading treatment.
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MURIC also acknowledged reports that supporters of the former governor had staged protests in Kaduna but commended them for remaining peaceful, urging them to continue to act within the law.
“We appeal to all to remain peaceful, calm and law-abiding,” the statement added.
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