By Kingston Magare 7.7.2026
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission agents Tuesday allegedly denied former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai Medicare, arrested his personal doctor Prof. Bello Abubakar, and also assaulted his wife.
El-Rufai was rushed to the National Hospital Abuja following undisclosed illness, doctors at the hospital recommended that he be admitted but ICPC agents allegedly refused the request causing a stir at the hospital.
However, according to the ICPC El-Rufai’s personal doctor was arrested for making false statements. It also accused El-Rufai of holding political meetings under the guise of getting medical treatment.
The African Democratic Congress condemned the action of the ICPC saying his treatment of El-Rufai has gone beyond allegations of corruption but now it is political prosecution.
“Information reaching us is that El-Rufai was billed for treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja. But against the hospital’s advice that he would require hospitalisation in view of his failing health, officials of the ICPC insisted on returning him into custody,” ADC national publicity secretary Bolaji Abdulahi said in a statement.
“Protests by his personal physician and his wife led to scuffles during which his wife was assaulted and the doctor subsequently arrested.
“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.
“No democratic government that claims to respect the rule of law should deny a detainee access to medical care or prevent close family members from seeing him in flagrant disobedience of the courts, which granted him unfettered access to his lawyers, physician and family members.”
The ADC said the ICPC ought to explain to Nigerians on whose authority they are acting to prevent El-Rufai medical treatment.
“The ICPC owes Nigerians immediate explanations. On whose authority was access to his family denied? Why has access to his doctor been refused despite concerns about his health? What legal basis exists for these actions? Why were El-Rufai’s wife and doctor assaulted by the ICPC operatives?” it asked.
El Rufai with ICPC agents.