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ADC Demans Access To El-Rufai, Warns ICPC Against Further Intimidation
ADC Demans Access To El-Rufai, Warns ICPC Against Further Intimidation
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Friday accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of obstructing access to former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, after a delegation comprising the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, was denied access to him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In a strongly worded statement, the party said it had previously written to the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai amid concerns raised by his family over the alleged denial of access to doctors and food. The ADC warned that “Nigeria and the world are watching,” insisting that the former governor was being subjected to intimidation and political persecution, while threatening to mobilise party members nationwide if access to him continues to be denied.
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The full statement read:
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to express its concern over the refusal of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to grant senior leaders of our party access to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State and a prominent leader of our party, who remains in the custody of the Commission.
Earlier today, alongside the National Secretary of our party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, we visited the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja to see Mallam El-Rufai. Despite prior communication and formal requests, we were denied access without any reasonable explanation.
While we were at the premises awaiting a response to our request, the atmosphere suddenly became noticeably tense after no fewer than three truckloads of armed police officers arrived at the facility. The heavy deployment, which appeared entirely unnecessary and disproportionate to the peaceful presence of unarmed political leaders, created the unmistakable impression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage.
It is deeply troubling that a simple request by senior party officials to visit a detained colleague was met, not with professionalism, but with a show of force more suited to the suppression of civil unrest. At no point did members of our delegation threaten disorder, incite confrontation, or mobilise supporters to the premises. Yet the response of the state suggested panic, fear, and an attempt to intimidate not only our party leaders, but also any Nigerian who may dare to question the treatment being meted out to opposition figures.
Such actions only reinforce growing public concern that state institutions are increasingly being used, not merely for law enforcement, but as instruments of political pressure and psychological intimidation against dissenting voices.
It is important to state that the National Secretary of the ADC had previously written officially to the Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights to Mallam El-Rufai, especially in light of growing public concerns regarding his wellbeing and reports that he has faced repeated restrictions on access to family members and medical personnel.
Only days ago, Hajiya Asia El-Rufai publicly alleged that her husband was denied access to his doctor and that she was prevented from delivering food to him while in custody after arriving at the facility in the evening. Members of his family have similarly raised concerns that even court-ordered medical access was being frustrated through administrative obstruction and arbitrary protocols.
While the ICPC has publicly denied these allegations and insisted that access protocols were followed, the continued refusal to allow leaders of his political party to see him only deepens suspicion and raises further questions about the true nature of his detention.
ADC
Let it be clear: Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities. Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access, and fair treatment under the law. What we are witnessing increasingly appears to be punishment by process, intimidation through isolation, and an attempt to break the spirit of a leading opposition figure.
The ADC will not stand by and watch one of its leaders subjected to this pattern of harassment and calculated humiliation. Nigeria is watching. The international community is watching. The world is watching.
We therefore demand that the ICPC immediately grant unrestricted access to Mallam El-Rufai by his family, doctors, lawyers, and leaders of his political party. Anything short of this will only reinforce public perception that state institutions are being weaponised against opposition voices.
Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi
National Publicity Secretary
African Democratic Congress.
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CAS Charges Senior Military Officers On Strategic Leadership In Air Operations
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has charged senior military officers participating in the Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Higher Military Strategy and Management Course 10/2026 to embrace strategic leadership, jointness, and innovative thinking in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
The charge was delivered on behalf of the CAS by the Chief of Air Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal NN Ananaba, during a lecture presented to participants of the course at the Army War College Nigeria, Abuja.
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Delivering a lecture titled “Military Strategic Leadership in Support of Air Operations: My Perspective,” the CAS highlighted the critical role of strategic leadership in enhancing the effectiveness of air operations within joint military campaigns.
He noted that the increasingly dynamic nature of modern warfare requires military leaders to remain proactive, adaptable, and collaborative in the application of military power, while emphasizing the importance of inter-service synergy, operational planning, and strategic foresight in achieving national security objectives.
Senior Military Officers
The CAS further encouraged participants to continually develop their professional capacities and uphold the highest standards of military leadership in service to the nation. The AWCN Higher Military Strategy and Management Course 10/2026, which commenced on 2 February 2026 and runs for nine months, comprises 100 senior officers in the ranks of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, and their equivalents from the Nigerian Armed Forces and allied nations.
The lecture formed part of the College’s strategic engagement programme aimed at exposing participants to critical national security and military leadership issues through interactions with senior military leaders and experts. Eereporter.com
Development Partner Sets To Support The Vulnerable In Nigeria
Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction meets World Bank delegation to discuss emergency support and to lift up millions of vulnerable House holds to get good health, education and other social needs that makes life better.
The meeting took place in the conference room of the Honourable Minister 22-05-2026.
The Honourable Minister Dr. Doro said the National Social Registry beyond being a data base is a strategic national tool for identifying the poor and the vulnerable households, ensuring that social interventions are evidence based well targeted and impactful. Adding that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is Committed to lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
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He hopes that other development partners will support the cause and to work with the federal government to better the lives of the vulnerables.
Vulnerable
The World Bank delegation led by Mr. Roberts Chase, reiterates the Bank’s support for the social interventions, pointing out that, Nigeria has the largest social registry in Africa.
Janet McDickson Noah
Director Information and Public Relations. Eereporter.com
Nigerian Navy Foils Attempt To Revive Illegal Crude Oil Refining Network In Rivers
The Nigerian Navy says it has foiled renewed attempts by crude oil theft syndicates to re-establish a major illegal refining network in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Director, Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, stated this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
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About 260,000 litres of products suspected to be crude oil and 405,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were discovered across the site.
Mr Folorunsho said that the feat was achieved by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, under Operation Delta Sentinel, during sustained anti-crude oil theft patrols within the area.
He also said that the navy was reinforcing ongoing efforts to deny economic saboteurs, the ability to regenerate criminal infrastructure across the Niger Delta.
He said, “Acting on actionable intelligence, naval personnel advanced to identified locations around Egbema where criminal elements had reportedly resumed activities at illegal refining sites previously dismantled during earlier operations.
“Subsequent exploitation of the area confirmed the reactivation of three illegal refining sites supported by an extensive network of 13 dugout pits.
“Personnel discovered about 260,000 litres of products suspected to be crude oil and about 405,000 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) across the site.
“This indicates a significant attempt to restore production capacity within the area.
“Preliminary findings revealed that the operators continued to exploit crude oil sourced from an abandoned wellhead in the area, demonstrating the persistence of criminal networks in adapting dormant infrastructure for illicit activities.”
He stated that the operation, beyond the volume of products recovered, underscored the Nigerian Navy’s growing focus on preventing the regeneration of illegal refining ecosystems.
He further said that intelligence indicated that in spite of previous enforcement actions, criminals had repeatedly attempted to reoccupy the same locations.
Nigerian Navy
“This underscores the strategic importance of sustained monitoring and rapid interdiction operations.
“The illegal refining sites, dugout pits, and associated products were subsequently handled in accordance with established anti-crude oil theft procedures, effectively disrupting the renewed illegal refining attempt.
“The Nigerian navy remains committed to sustaining intelligence-led operations under Operation Delta Sentinel aimed at dismantling criminal networks, protecting critical national assets, and safeguarding the economic interests of the nation,” he added.
Eereporter.com
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