Abuja: A fresh row has erupted between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the detention of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and a court-approved hospital visit.
The ADC accused the anti-graft agency of denying El-Rufai proper medical attention and violating his rights in custody. The ICPC, however, said he breached the terms of the court-approved hospital visit.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, where doctors recommended admission because of the seriousness of his condition.
The party said ICPC officials rejected that recommendation and insisted on taking him back into custody.
According to the ADC, the decision triggered protests from El-Rufai’s wife and personal physician, leading to a confrontation during which his wife was assaulted and the doctor arrested.
“Against the hospital’s advice that he would require hospitalisation in view of his failing health, officials of the ICPC insisted on returning him to custody. Protests by his personal physician and his wife led to scuffles during which his wife was assaulted, and the doctor was subsequently arrested,” Abdullahi said.
The opposition party described the incident as a violation of constitutional rights, due process and human dignity. It also claimed that El-Rufai had been denied access to his family and personal physician despite a court order permitting such access.
It further accused President Bola Tinubu of presiding over the former governor’s continued detention, describing 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 Nasir El-Rufai,” Abdullahi said.
The ICPC rejected the allegations, insisting that El-Rufai abused the medical visit granted to him by the court.
In its own statement, signed by spokesperson John Odey, the commission said the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8 for accelerated hearing of criminal charges against El-Rufai, but the hearing could not begin after he allegedly refused to leave custody for court, insisting instead on seeing his personal physician.
The commission said no prior request had been made for such a consultation and that, when asked by its medical doctor, El-Rufai said he had no immediate medical complaint but wanted to see his physician at the request of his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his counsel.
The ICPC said the court later adjourned the matter until July 15 to hear El-Rufai’s application seeking the recusal of the trial judge and to await a ruling from the Kaduna State Chief Judge on a separate request for the case to be transferred.
It said the hospital visit was nevertheless approved and supervised in line with the court’s directives and the commission’s duty of care to persons in custody.
According to the ICPC, its medical and security personnel escorted El-Rufai to the private wing of the National Hospital and remained outside the consultation room while he was examined by an oncologist.
The agency said concerns arose after photographs surfaced on Facebook showing El-Rufai with his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, and three other individuals during the visit.
The photographs were reportedly posted by El-Rufai’s political associate, Isa Kudan, who said they had just concluded a meeting with the former governor.
“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 Professor Bello Abubakar was arrested for allegedly making false statements and said it would present the matter before the court.
