After hours of interrogations by the Department of State Services, (DSS) former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Interim Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, has been released.

The APC chieftain was held at the Yellow House Headquarters of the State Security Service on Monday when he willing surrendered himself for questioning after his earlier refusal last Friday.

Speaking to newsmen at his Maitama home on Monday morning before he was driven to the DSS headquarters, Mr. El-Rufai insisted he was innocent, adding that his comment about the possibility of violence erupting if next year’s general elections were rigged was based on Nigeria’s electoral history.

He said his comment was made in exercise of his fundamental human right principle of freedom of speech as enshrined in the amended 1999 Constitution.

He explained: “The statement I made was based on historical fact because it happened in 1964, 1983, 2003, 2007 and 2011.” Stressing that he was prepare to go to court to enforce his fundamental human rights, if the need arose.

“We are ready to pursue the enforcement of our rights in the law court and in the court of public opinion; whoever does anything against the law should face the consequences,” he added.