The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, over alleged false statements linked to a court-approved medical consultation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey said the commission granted el-Rufai access to medical care under security supervision in compliance with a court order.
According to the commission, its officers remained outside the consultation room at the request of el-Rufai’s family while he was being attended to by his doctor.
The ICPC, however, alleged that the medical visit was used to host a political meeting after Isa Ashiru Kudan, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, posted photographs on Facebook showing himself, Professor Abubakar, three others, and el-Rufai. Kudan’s post indicated they had concluded a meeting with the former governor.
The commission described the development as a violation of the court order, stating that the medical consultation was allegedly used for activities outside the scope of the approval granted by the court.
ICPC also alleged that Professor Abubakar made false statements regarding the visit and confirmed that he has been taken into custody for further investigation.
El-Rufai is currently standing trial on a nine-count charge filed by the anti-corruption agency. On July 2, the Kaduna High Court rejected his latest bail application after ruling that a medical report submitted in support of the request had been disowned by the National Hospital, Abuja.
Despite denying bail, the court ordered the ICPC to grant the former governor unrestricted access to his personal physicians and any specialised medical facility of his choice within Nigeria while his trial continues.
