Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, has stirred fresh controversy over the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, alleging that a Russian doctor was secretly brought into DSS custody to examine him under suspicious circumstances.
In a statement released on Friday, Frank claimed that a senior official of the Department of State Services informed him that the foreign doctor arrived around 9:45 p.m. after authorities reportedly declared that El-Rufai needed urgent medical attention.
According to Frank, the former governor initially resisted the examination but was allegedly forced to comply.
“A DSS official reached out to me to reliably confirm that a Russian doctor visited Mallam Nasir El-Rufai late at night under the claim that he was ill and required medical attention,” he said.
Frank questioned the rationale behind bringing in a foreign doctor at night, arguing that the move had fueled suspicions rather than eased concerns.
“If El-Rufai truly needed treatment, why was a foreign doctor secretly brought in at that hour? Nigerians deserve answers,” he stated.
The former APC spokesman alleged that the doctor, identified only as “Dr Dmitriy,” examined El-Rufai without consultation with his family or legal team, describing the development as “deeply troubling.”
Frank said the incident had reinforced fears over what he described as earlier intelligence suggesting a possible plot against the former Kaduna governor.
He also questioned the continued detention of El-Rufai, asking whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani were unsettled by the former governor’s political influence.
“What exactly are Tinubu and Uba Sani afraid of? Why the desperation and extraordinary measures against him?” Frank queried.
Frank further claimed that El-Rufai was moved back to DSS custody despite an alleged directive that he remain with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
He maintained that El-Rufai had shown no sign of evading authorities, noting that the former governor voluntarily reported to security agencies immediately after returning to Nigeria from Egypt.
While reiterating his support for anti-corruption efforts, Frank insisted that the rule of law and due process must not be compromised.
He called on the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, northern leaders, religious figures, and the international community to intervene and demand El-Rufai’s immediate release.
Frank warned that continued silence over the matter could have “grave consequences,” urging Nigerians not to ignore what he described as disturbing developments surrounding the former governor’s detention.