ICPC explains arrest of El-Rufai’s doctor after hospital visit
ICPC Confirms Arrest of Former Governor’s Physician for Alleged False Statements
ABUJA — The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar, who served as the personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. He is facing allegations of making false statements regarding a court-approved hospital visit for the ex-governor.
In a statement issued Tuesday, ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey detailed that El-Rufai was admitted to the private wing of the National Hospital in Abuja on July 7 for medical consultation, with security measures sanctioned by the court.
During the visit, ICPC personnel maintained a professional approach, standing outside the consultation room to ensure the privacy of the former governor while he was examined by an oncologist.
The commission, however, alleges that El-Rufai’s hospital visit was used for purposes beyond the medical care authorized by the court. Evidence cited by the ICPC includes a Facebook post from Isa Ashiru Kudan, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, showing photographs of himself alongside Professor Abubakar and others during the timeframe when El-Rufai was expected to be receiving treatment.
“The images and post by Isa Kudan indicated that the arranged medical visit was utilized for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC,” the statement read. “This is a clear violation of the court order.” The commission further noted that the professional courtesies extended to El-Rufai had been misused on several occasions.
Professor Abubakar has been taken into custody as investigations into the matter continue. This arrest comes just days after the Kaduna High Court denied El-Rufai’s third bail application in an ongoing trial related to nine charges filed by the ICPC.
Justice Darius Khobo ruled that the medical report presented by El-Rufai was insufficient to warrant bail, as the National Hospital in Abuja had disowned the document. Despite the denial of bail, the court has ordered ICPC to grant El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal physicians and allow them to take him to any specialized diagnostic or clinical facility of his choosing within Nigeria during the trial.