The Kaduna State High Court has refused a fresh bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his ongoing trial over alleged corruption charges brought by the **Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission> (ICPC).
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Darius Khobo dismissed El-Rufai’s third application for bail, which was based on medical grounds. The court held that the medical report submitted in support of the request could not be relied upon after it was disowned by the institution said to have issued it.
According to a statement by the ICPC, the bail application was supported by a document marked as “Exhibit A”, which was presented as a medical report from the National Hospital Abuja. The report allegedly stated that El-Rufai had been diagnosed with advanced metastatic prostate cancer requiring specialised treatment unavailable in Nigeria.
However, during the hearing, the anti-graft agency tendered documentary evidence from the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Muhammad Raji Mahmud, indicating that a search of the hospital’s electronic records found no patient file, hospital number, consultation history, billing record or any evidence that El-Rufai had ever received treatment at the facility.
The ICPC further stated that the hospital’s management denied authorising or issuing the medical report relied upon by the defence. Based on the evidence before it, the court ruled that a document rejected by its purported source could not serve as the basis for granting bail.
Despite dismissing the application, Justice Khobo directed the ICPC to allow the former governor unrestricted access to his personal doctors. The court also ordered the commission to escort him to any specialised diagnostic or medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever necessary during the trial.
El-Rufai is standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on the alleged conferment of benefits under false pretences and the dishonest disposal of loan funds. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The former governor has remained in ICPC custody since February 19, following his release by the **Economic and Financial Crimes Commission> (EFCC). In April, the court also rejected an earlier bail request, ruling that keeping him in custody would ensure his availability for trial. He was, however, temporarily released in March to attend his mother’s burial.
The ICPC is separately prosecuting El-Rufai in another case before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
