A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, contributed to the death of his mother.

Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, Okonkwo claimed that the emotional impact of El-Rufai’s incarceration may have been too much for the elderly woman to bear.

He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to manipulate the judiciary, citing El-Rufai’s case as an example.

According to him, elderly parents can be deeply affected by distressing news involving their children. He explained that in his view, informing a 90-year-old woman that her son had been arrested could have caused severe emotional shock, which he believes led to her death.

Okonkwo further argued that El-Rufai’s release after his mother’s passing, allegedly without a court order, raises concerns about the handling of the case and the role of the judiciary.

He maintained that disregarding court orders suggests interference in the judicial process.