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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of assaulting the wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and unlawfully arresting his personal physician during a hospital visit in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party alleged that the anti-graft agency violated El-Rufai’s constitutional rights by denying him adequate medical care despite medical advice recommending his admission at the National Hospital, Abuja.
According to the ADC, El-Rufai was taken to the hospital for treatment, where doctors reportedly advised that he should be admitted because of his deteriorating health.
The party, however, claimed ICPC operatives insisted on returning him to custody against the hospital’s recommendation.
The ADC alleged that the disagreement triggered a confrontation involving El-Rufai’s wife and his personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, during which the former governor’s wife was allegedly assaulted while the doctor was taken into custody.
The party described the incident as an abuse of power, alleging that the actions of the anti-corruption agency had gone beyond legitimate law enforcement and amounted to political persecution.
“The world should know today that President Bola Tinubu is holding a political prisoner in Nigeria by the name of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,” the statement reads.
The ADC argued that no democratic government committed to the rule of law should deny a detainee access to medical treatment or prevent visits from family members, lawyers and personal physicians, particularly where a court has granted such access.
It further maintained that the matter had transcended El-Rufai’s personal circumstances and now raised broader concerns about constitutional rights, due process and the protection of democratic institutions.
The party demanded that the ICPC explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged denial of access to El-Rufai’s family and physician, the reported assault on his wife, and the legal basis for the arrest of his doctor.
The ADC also called for unrestricted access for El-Rufai to his family, legal team and medical personnel, a review of his bail conditions, improved detention conditions, strict adherence to constitutional safeguards and greater transparency in the commission’s handling of the case.
The statement came shortly after the ICPC announced the arrest of Prof. Bello Abubakar, accusing him of making false statements.
The commission also alleged that El-Rufai violated the terms of a court-approved medical visit by meeting with political associates instead of receiving medical treatment, adding that it would bring the alleged breach before the court.
