Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of indirectly causing the death of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s mother through his detention.
El-Rufai was previously held by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) over corruption allegations while in office. During his incarceration, he lost his mother and was granted administrative bail to attend her burial.
Speaking in an interview with Symponi TV, Okonkwo said the APC is attempting to manipulate the judiciary to serve political interests. He linked El-Rufai’s detention to his mother’s death, saying emotional stress on elderly parents can have tragic consequences.
“Somebody told my mother that thieves stole from the houses of some of her children, and she was so distressed that preachers had to intervene. Now imagine an aged woman of 90 being told her son was arrested—it is my opinion that this led to her death,” Okonkwo said.
He further alleged that the APC’s actions revealed a misuse of the judicial system. “They released El-Rufai only after his mother had passed, showing they were using the judiciary for political ends,” he added.
Okonkwo’s remarks add fuel to ongoing debates about the intersection of politics and justice in Nigeria, highlighting concerns over how legal processes are applied in high-profile cases.
