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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the recent release of a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Nasir El-Rufai has shown that his detention is politically motivated.

The Department of State Services, DSS, on Wednesday took custody of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai,

The Kaduna Federal High Court moments after proceedings at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.

El-Rufai is standing trial over alleged corruption levelled against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

The court had adjourned the trial till April 14 for bail hearing but was subsequently arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.

However, a statement by Atiku’s aide, Paul Ibe said: “After the failure of what they had thought was a gambit in temporarily releasing Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (and the cold shoulder they got trying to lobby him), they’ve now resorted to dragging him all over the place.

“By releasing @elrufai, they were only confirming what we’ve been saying: Mallam Nasir el-Rufai’s detention and arraignment is politically motivated.

“After all, they did not get the leave of the court before releasing him.

“What is expected of them now, is to ensure the permanency of his release.

“As a citizen, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai is entitled to chart his own political course. That is the true essence of democracy.”

El-Rufai’s detention, arraignment politically motivated – Atiku