The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of making false statements during a court-approved medical visit.
The anti-graft agency also accused El-Rufai of allegedly breaching the terms of the hospital visit by receiving political associates while he was expected to undergo medical consultation, saying the visit went beyond the purpose approved by the court.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ICPC said the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against the former governor. However, El-Rufai did not appear in court on the first scheduled day.
According to the commission, its counsel informed the court that when officers attempted to escort El-Rufai from custody for the hearing, he declined, requesting instead to see his personal physician. The ICPC claimed no prior request for medical consultation had been made and alleged that El-Rufai informed its medical personnel that he had no immediate medical complaint but said the request came through his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his lawyers.
Following submissions by both parties, the court adjourned proceedings until July 15 to hear El-Rufai’s application seeking the trial judge’s recusal and to await the decision of the Kaduna State Chief Judge on a petition requesting the transfer of the case.
The ICPC said it nevertheless approved the medical visit in compliance with the court’s directive and transported El-Rufai to the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, under security escort. The commission stated that its medical and security personnel remained outside the consultation room to respect the defendant’s privacy at the request of his family.
However, the commission alleged that photographs later shared on Facebook by one of El-Rufai’s political associates, Isa Ashiru Kudan, showed the former governor meeting with his physician and several visitors during the hospital visit. The ICPC argued that the meeting exceeded the scope of the court-approved medical consultation.
As a result, the commission announced the arrest of Professor Abubakar for further investigation over alleged false statements connected to the visit. It also said it would present the matter before the court, maintaining that the professional courtesies extended to the former governor while in custody had been abused.
El-Rufai is currently facing multiple criminal charges filed by the ICPC in Kaduna and at the Federal High Court, including allegations of abuse of office, fraud, money laundering and procurement-related offences. He has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the prosecutions are politically motivated.
The ICPC’s allegations regarding the hospital visit have not been tested in court, and Professor Abubakar has not publicly responded to the commission’s claims at the time of filing this report.
