The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised serious concerns over reports that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, allegedly suffered a bleeding nose while in the custody of a Nigerian security agency. The group questioned whether this incident contributed to his absence from court during his scheduled arraignment.
In a statement circulated to the press on Saturday, MURIC Executive Director Professor Ishaq Akintola said: “El-Rufai’s bleeding nose may be as a result of brutalisation in custody or due to denial of access to his medicine. To date, there has been no comment on this disturbing development from official quarters.”
Professor Akintola emphasised that the welfare of all citizens, particularly those in detention, is a shared responsibility. He said: “The case of a detainee suffering a bleeding nose should naturally attract questions. Mallam El-Rufai is a former minister and state governor, and as such, deserves decent treatment regardless of the charges he faces. If a former governor cannot get fair treatment, what hope is there for ordinary Nigerians?”
MURIC also expressed concern over reports that El-Rufai’s wife, who brought food for him, was not allowed to hand it over directly, saying this reflects a worrying trend. The group called on security agencies to act with professionalism, civility, and respect for human rights, citing Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, which guaranteed that no person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.
While noting that supporters of El-Rufai have staged protests in Kaduna, MURIC commended the peaceful nature of the demonstrations and appealed to all parties to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding.
