El-Rufai defied court-approved medical visit, ICPC alleges

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, of violating the conditions attached to a court-approved medical visit while in the agency’s custody.

It alleged that the visit was used for activities beyond the scope permitted by the court.

The anti-graft agency also announced the arrest of Bello Abubakar, El-Rufai’s personal physician, over allegations of making false statements during the course of its investigation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by John Odey, its spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, the commission said it had approved the medical visit in compliance with a court directive and in line with its statutory responsibility to safeguard the rights and welfare of individuals in its custody.

According to ICPC, the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against El-Rufai.

However, the former governor allegedly failed to appear in court on the first day of proceedings.

The commission said its prosecution team informed the court that when its officers arrived to transport El-Rufai to the courtroom, he declined to accompany them, insisting on seeing his personal physician.

It added that no prior request for such a medical consultation had been submitted to the commission.

The agency further claimed that when its own medical doctor questioned El-Rufai about his health, he reportedly said he had no immediate medical complaints but explained that Asia El-Rufai, his wife, who is also one of his legal counsel, had requested that he be allowed to consult his personal doctor.

Following the development, the court 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 a petition requesting the transfer of the case.

ICPC said it honoured the court’s directive by facilitating the medical visit at the private wing of the National Hospital in Abuja on Tuesday.

The commission stated that its medical and security personnel conducted themselves professionally throughout the visit, respecting the defendant’s privacy by remaining outside the consultation room at the request of El-Rufai’s family while the attending oncologist examined him.

However, the agency alleged that it later discovered Facebook photographs posted by Isa Ashiru Kudan, one of El-Rufai’s political associates, showing the former governor receiving several visitors, including Abubakar, during the period designated for the medical consultation.

According to the ICPC, the photographs suggested that the hospital visit was used for engagements outside the purpose approved by both the court and the commission.

“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 stated.

The agency maintained that it had treated El-Rufai and other suspects in its custody with “patience, professionalism and courtesy,” but alleged that such goodwill had been abused.

It warned that it would formally draw the court’s attention to what it described as the defendant’s “flagrant disobedience” of the court’s directive.

“The professional and humane nature of the ICPC should not be taken for granted,” the commission added.

The commission also confirmed that Professor Abubakar had been taken into custody for further investigation over alleged false statements connected with the case.

The ICPC said it would continue to operate strictly within the law while insisting that it would not tolerate any attempt to abuse the privileges or goodwill extended to persons in its custody.

The allegations by the ICPC had not been publicly responded to by El-Rufai or his legal team as of the time of filing this report.