- ADC alleges rights violations
By Myke Uzendu
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday accused former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, of violating the conditions of a court-approved medical visit while in its custody.
The ICPC also announced the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, alleging that he made false statements in connection with the medical visit.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the commission said it facilitated El-Rufai’s visit to the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, in compliance with a court directive and its obligation to safeguard the welfare of persons in its custody.
According to the commission, the Kaduna State High Court had scheduled July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against the former governor, but he failed to appear when proceedings commenced on July 6.
The ICPC said its prosecution team informed the court that when officers arrived to convey El-Rufai to court, he declined to accompany them, insisting on seeing his personal doctor.
The commission stated that no prior request had been made for such a consultation and that, when questioned by its medical doctor, El-Rufai reportedly said he had no immediate medical complaints but explained that his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his lawyers, wanted him to consult his personal physician.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until July 15, 2026, to hear El-Rufai’s application seeking the trial judge’s recusal and to await the decision of the Kaduna State Chief Judge on his petition requesting the transfer of the case.
The anti-graft agency said that despite the adjournment, it approved the medical visit in line with the court order.
It stated that during the hospital visit on Tuesday, its medical and security personnel remained outside the consultation room at the request of El-Rufai’s family while an oncologist examined him.
However, the commission alleged that it later discovered photographs posted on Facebook by Isa Ashiru Kudan, identified as El-Rufai’s political associate and the ADC governorship candidate in Kaduna State, showing the former governor receiving several visitors, including Professor Abubakar, during the period approved solely for medical consultation.
According to the ICPC, the photographs suggested that the visit was used for activities outside the scope of the court’s approval.
“The images and post by Isa Kudan indicated that the arranged medical visit was utilised for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC. This is a clear violation of the court order,” the commission said.
It added that it would bring what it described as the defendant’s “flagrant disobedience” of the court order to the attention of the court, insisting that the professionalism and humane disposition of the commission should not be taken for granted.
Meanwhile, following the development, opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the anti-graft agency denied him access to proper medical care and violated his constitutional rights.
ADC lamented that the ICPC operatives returned the former Kaduba governor to custody despite medical advice that he should be admitted to the hospital.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party further alleged that El-Rufai’s wife was assaulted during a confrontation with ICPC operatives and that Professor Abubakar was arrested after protesting the decision.
The ADC described the alleged actions as an abuse of constitutional rights and warned that Nigeria was drifting towards authoritarianism under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The actions of the ICPC and the Tinubu government have for months now gone beyond the realm of law enforcement. Their actions have become an assault on the Constitution of 200 million Nigerians, on human dignity, and on the most basic principles of justice and human rights,” the statement said.
The opposition party also alleged that President Tinubu was holding El-Rufai as a political prisoner.
“The world should know today that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is holding a political prisoner in Nigeria by the name of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai,” it stated.
The ADC maintained that no democratic government should deny a detainee access to medical care, family members or legal representatives, describing such actions as inconsistent with the rule of law.
The ICPC has, however, maintained that it acted in full compliance with the court’s directive, respected El-Rufai’s privacy during the hospital visit and only intervened after concluding that the medical appointment had been used for purposes beyond those authorised by the court.
