ICPC Arrests El Rufai Personal Doctor Over Hospital Visit Controversy

(Nasir El Rufai. Photo Credit: Daily Post)

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has confirmed the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar, personal physician to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations that he made false statements following the ex-governor’s court-approved hospital visit.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the commission’s spokesperson, Okor Odey, the ICPC said El-Rufai was taken to the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, on July 7 for medical consultation under security arrangements sanctioned by the court.

The anti-graft agency said its medical and security personnel conducted themselves professionally and respected the former governor’s privacy by remaining outside the consultation room while he was being examined by an oncologist.

However, the commission alleged that the hospital visit was exploited for activities outside the medical purpose approved by the court.

According to the ICPC, a social media post by Kaduna State African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru Kudan, showed photographs of himself, Professor Abubakar and three others meeting with El-Rufai during the period he was expected to be receiving medical treatment.

The commission said the images and the post by Kudan indicated that the arranged medical visit had been used for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC, describing this as a clear violation of the court order.

It added that the professional courtesies extended to the former governor had been repeatedly abused.

The ICPC said Professor Abubakar was arrested over the alleged false statements and has been taken into custody as investigations continue.

The latest development comes days after the Kaduna High Court rejected El-Rufai’s third bail application in his ongoing trial on a nine-count charge filed by the ICPC.

Justice Darius Khobo ruled that the medical report presented by the former governor could not support his bail request, since the National Hospital, Abuja, had disowned the document.

Despite denying bail, the court directed the ICPC to grant El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal doctors and to allow them to take him to any specialised diagnostic or clinical facility of his choice within Nigeria while his trial proceeds.