Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has raised fresh alarm over the health and safety of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that a foreign doctor of Russian origin was secretly brought in to examine him while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Frank, in a statement on Friday, claimed that a DSS official contacted him to “reliably confirm” that a Russian doctor visited El-Rufai around 9:45 p.m. after authorities allegedly claimed that the former governor was ill and required urgent medical attention.
According to him, El-Rufai initially resisted the medical examination but was allegedly compelled to undergo it.
“A DSS official reached out to me to reliably confirm that a Russian doctor visited Mallam Nasir El-Rufai at about 9:45 p.m. under the claim that he was ill and required medical attention.
“Although Mallam El-Rufai allegedly refused initially, he was reportedly compelled to undergo medical examination,” Frank said.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, questioned why a foreign doctor would be invited at night if the former governor truly needed medical care.
“If Mallam El-Rufai is truly ill, why bring in a foreign doctor at that time of the night?” he queried.
“Sneaking him in under the guise of being a doctor or a mercenary posing as a doctor to carry out this dirty job raises serious questions. How do we verify and how are we sure? This is Nigeria and anything is very possible under this administration,” he added.
Frank maintained that El-Rufai appeared healthy during his last court appearance, insisting that any medical attention should ordinarily have been based on the former governor’s consent or request.
“The Mallam El-Rufai many Nigerians saw during his last court appearance looked healthy and stable.
“If medical attention was genuinely required, shouldn’t it have been at his own request? What then happened to the medical personnel attached to the nation’s security agencies?” he said.
He further claimed that the alleged appearance of the Russian doctor had deepened fears following what he described as earlier intelligence reports of a plot against the former Kaduna governor.
“Given the earlier intelligence I received regarding an alleged plot to eliminate Mallam El-Rufai, the sudden appearance of a Russian doctor now raises serious suspicions and deep concern,” he stated.
Frank also questioned what he described as the “desperation” surrounding El-Rufai’s detention, asking whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani were afraid of the former governor.
“The question Nigerians should ask is this: what exactly are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani afraid of?” he asked.
“Is there something they know that the Nigerian public do not know? Why the apparent desperation and extraordinary measures being taken against him?”
Frank recalled El-Rufai’s role in the emergence of the current administration, noting that the former governor played a “critical role” during the 2023 elections.
“We all know the critical role Mallam El-Rufai played in the last election, especially when then-candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited him in Kaduna and appealed to him to remain committed to supporting the administration,” he said.
The former APC spokesman also claimed he had earlier predicted that El-Rufai would eventually be arrested after attending court proceedings.
“Recall that I had earlier stated publicly that Mallam El-Rufai would eventually be picked up from the court premises — and exactly that happened. Nigerians should therefore not treat these developments lightly,” he added.
Frank alleged that the former governor had been returned to DSS custody despite an alleged subsisting order for him to remain with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
He further identified the foreign doctor as “Dr Dmitriy,” alleging that the medical examination was carried out without proper consultation with El-Rufai or members of his family.
Frank said: “It is strange that a Russian doctor, who has now after further intelligence been identified as one Dr Dmitriy, was brought in to examine Mallam El-Rufai without proper consultation with him or members of his family.
“Despite a subsisting order for him to remain with the ICPC, the DSS reportedly hurriedly moved him back into its custody. Naturally, this development has intensified public suspicion.”
Frank argued that El-Rufai had not attempted to evade security agencies, stressing that the former governor voluntarily presented himself upon his return to Nigeria from Egypt.
“It is also clear to every reasonable observer that Mallam El-Rufai is not on the run. In fact, he voluntarily presented himself to security agencies immediately upon his return to Nigeria from Egypt. Since when did corruption allegations become non-bailable offences?” he queried.
While reiterating his support for the anti-corruption war, Frank insisted that due process and the rule of law must prevail.
“For the umpteenth time, I reiterate my support for the fight against corruption. However, fairness, justice, rule of law, and due process must never be sacrificed under any circumstance,” he stated.
He also appealed to northern leaders, youths, civil society organisations and the international community to intervene and demand El-Rufai’s release.
“I pray that northern elders and youths will not sit back and watch anything untoward happen to Mallam El-Rufai,” Frank said.
“I therefore call on the Nigerian Bar Association, religious leaders, northern elders, traditional rulers, northern youths, civil society organisations, well-meaning Nigerians, and the international community to urgently demand his immediate release so he can adequately prepare for his defence.”
Frank warned that failure to act urgently could lead to dire consequences.
“If urgent action is not taken, there are growing fears that Mallam El-Rufai may either be brought out dead, released only to die later at home, or kept in prolonged detention until after the 2027 general elections,” he alleged.
“Let us act before it is too late,” he declared.
Signed
Comrade Timi Frank
ULMWP Ambassador (East Africa and Middle East) and
Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA.
