By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The opposition Coalition platform,  African Democratic Congress, ADC on Monday, May 18, 2026, expressed serious concern over the deteriorating health condition of detained former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The party also warned that President Bola Tinubu will be held accountable should anything happen to El-Rufai who has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, since February 18, 2026.

The ADC’s alarm is tolling just as the ICPC vehemently debunked claims suggesting that medical doctors and family members have been denied access to the former Kaduna State Governor.

El-Rufai’s wife and son, last weekend, alleged that the anti-corruption commission has denied El-Rufai access to his doctors, as well as stopping the delivery of his meals, a situation they claimed has compounded his health challenges.

It would be recalled that an Abuja Federal High Court had, last week, ordered that El-Rufai be allowed supervised  access to medical attention for his health challenges.

In a statement on Monday, Bolaji Abdullahi  spokesperson for the ADC accused President Tinubu of using the instruments  of State power to suppress and hold El-Rufai, “a  political prisoner”

The party emphasized that El-Rufai has been unjustly detained for an unusually prolonged period by the Government using State institutions.

The party  wondered how the former Kaduna State Governor has preoccupied anti-graft agencies which curiously have turned a blind eye to high profile corruption suspects including Yahaya Bello ,and Ifeanyi Okowa , former Governors of Kogi and Delta states respectively.

“The African Democratic Congress is deeply concerned about the continued detention of Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai and his deteriorating health condition following reports from his family alleging denial of medical access to his doctors.

“These reports, if true, represent a dangerous assault on his dignity, health and constitutional rights.

“What is happening to Malam El-Rufai confirms beyond all doubt that this detention is no longer about justice, it is about politics.

“It also confirms our fears that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deploying the instruments of state power to keep one of the leading opposition figures out of circulation. This is political persecution dressed up in prosecution.

“When placed beside other high-profile cases, the contrast becomes stark and shameful. Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State has been accused in an alleged N80.2 billion money laundering case.

” Ifeanyi Okowa, former Governor of Delta State, was arrested over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion in derivation funds . But today, they are walking around free, singing President Tinubu’s campaign song.

“We state clearly: Malam Nasir El-Rufai is President Bola Tinubu’s political prisoner. This alone brings the President’s democratic credentials into disrepute.

“The African Democratic Congress has put in motion mechanisms through every lawful means available locally, nationally, continentally and Internationally to secure the release of Malam Nasir El-Rufai who, by every practical definition, has become a political prisoner in Nigeria”, the ADC stated.

Meanwhile, the ICPC on Monday, said it never denied  El-Rufai access either to his doctors or his food.

The Commission described the allegations from El-Rufai’s family as not only false but, misleading and totally baseless.

The ICPC, in a statement, noted that its operations are strictly guided by what it described as “Access Control Protocol within its premises.

“The Commission notes the wide circulation of a video interview since 10:00 pm on Friday ,15 May 2026.

“The facts of the matter: The ICPC’s Access Control Protocol which permits visitor access between 9:00 am and 6:30 pm has been in existence long before the current Chairman assumed office. It is a standing institutional policy that applies to all persons in custody.

“The families of all defendants ,and suspects in ICPC custody,  including the family in question, were duly informed of this protocol, and have, until this incident, been in compliance.

“On the Friday in question, one of the defendants wives and a housemaid were permitted to bring food to the defendant on no fewer than three occasions between 10:30 am and 5:30 pm .

“This is documented in the visitors register which records the names of family members and the purpose of each visit ,and is available for independent verification.

” lAuthorized visitors, including family , legal counsel ,and medical personnel are permitted to visit,  deliver food, and consult with persons in custody. However, entry is strictly not permitted after 6: 30 pm.

“The woman in the video herself acknowledged that she arrived at 7:00 pm, thirty minutes after the close of the official access window.

“It is on record that she has on prior occasions exceeded her permitted visiting duration.

“Furthermore, the woman herself admitted in the same video that she had delivered both breakfast ,and lunch to her husband earlier that day, thereby contradicting the allegation that ICPC denied him access to food.

” …. Concerning the claim that medical staff were refused entry, the ICPC would like to clarify that it merely requested appropriate identification from the aforementioned personnel, and verification from the defendant prior to allowing supervised access – a routine security measure.

“It is important to note that the week leading up to this event, Malam El-Rufai had sought, and was granted permission to visit both his dentist and ophthalmologist on two distinct occasions.

“The Commission accompanied him during both appointments. This is in addition to the consistent access he has to the Commission’s internal medical staff and facilities.upon request”, the ICPC noted.

However, the Commission emphasized that it is not  interested in engaging in  public spectacle, while also affirming its unwavering commitment to observing institutional protocols in its operations.

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that cases of kidnapping has further made imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas.

He said “The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police.

Reacting to the abduction and killing one of the teachers from Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the president condemned the act, while assuring that ongoing security operations will secure the release of all remaining victims.

This was contained in a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), on Monday.

The President described the incident as “barbaric” and expressed sympathy to affected families and the state government.

According to the statement, “President Bola Tinubu has condemned as barbaric the reported killing of one of the abducted teachers from the Esiele community in Oyo State, while the rescue operation is underway.

“Bandits invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday.

“They abducted staff, students, and pupils of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School and L.A. Primary School.

“Security operatives are working around the clock to rescue the victims and apprehend the bandits and their collaborators within the community.”

Tinubu also expressed sympathy to the state government and the affected families, stressingfederal-state coordination in the rescue effort.

“I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims.”

“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims.

” I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and the deployment of a tactical and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) team to rescue the victims.

“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Peter Obi, a leading presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, has expressed strong criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his borrowing practices, which he believes are not being used for production or development purposes. Obi’s remarks come in response to the President’s announcement that Nigeria will allocate approximately $11.6 billion for debt servicing. He argues that this trend under Tinubu is evolving from a temporary fiscal responsibility into a long-lasting structural burden that hampers development and increases economic vulnerability.

In a post on his X platform, Obi pointed out, “During a recent foreign visit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed that Nigeria would spend around $11.6 billion on debt servicing—a figure that should alarm anyone invested in the nation’s economic future and long-term growth.”

Obi emphasised that borrowing is not inherently negative if managed wisely and directed toward productive investments. He cited examples of countries like Japan, the UK, the US, the UAE, Singapore, and Indonesia, which, despite being heavily indebted, allocate their borrowed funds toward education, healthcare, infrastructure, and innovation—areas that yield long-term economic benefits and enhance repayment capabilities. Consequently, these countries manage their debt levels more effectively, as the obligations are connected to tangible productivity.

In contrast, Nigeria’s borrowing history has largely been geared toward consumption, with few sustainable developmental results that would validate the existing levels of debt.

It is also crucial to note that a significant portion of the debt currently being serviced was accrued during the Tinubu administration itself, which continues to engage in substantial borrowing. The administration’s recent external borrowing includes roughly $6 billion—$5 billion from First Abu Dhabi Bank in the UAE and $1 billion from UK Export Finance via Citibank London—along with an additional $1.25 billion being considered from the World Bank and $516 million arranged through Deutsche Bank. This raises the total known external loan commitments to about $7.8 billion. Additionally, domestic borrowing through monthly bond issuances continues to increase the overall debt.

In light of this, Nigeria’s 2026 budget allocates ₦2.46 trillion for health, ₦2.56 trillion for education, and ₦865 billion for poverty alleviation, totalling approximately ₦5.885 trillion for these essential sectors. In comparison, debt servicing—estimated at $11.6 billion (roughly ₦17–₦18 trillion based on exchange rate assumptions)—is nearly three times greater than the combined allocations for health, education, and social protection. This discrepancy underscores a concerning fiscal reality where debt obligations increasingly limit funding for human capital development and poverty alleviation.

Furthermore, even within the limited funding for these sectors, full release of the funds is not guaranteed, and a substantial portion may be subject to misallocation.

The primary concern, ultimately, lies not in the act of borrowing itself, but in whether the borrowed funds are being transformed into measurable productivity, inclusive growth, and enhanced living standards. Without such a conversion, debt servicing shifts from being a temporary fiscal obligation to a long-term structural burden that stifles development and exacerbates economic vulnerability.