Follow Us on Google
By Lawrence Agbo
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of using a court-approved medical visit for activities beyond the purpose authorised by the court.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, John Odey, the anti-graft agency said El-Rufai’s visit to the National Hospital, Abuja, was approved solely to enable him to receive medical attention while in the commission’s custody.
According to the ICPC, its officers complied with the court order and respected El-Rufai’s privacy by remaining outside the consultation room at the request of his family while he was being attended to by his personal physician.
“The prosecution further informed the court that no prior request had been made to the commission for such medical consultation and that, when asked by the commission’s medical doctor, the defendant reportedly indicated that he had no immediate medical complaints but stated that his wife, Aisha El-Rufai, who is also one of his legal counsel, had requested that he see his personal physician, Prof Bello Abubakar,” the statement said.
However, the commission said it later discovered photographs posted on Facebook by one of El-Rufai’s political associates, Isa Ashiru, showing the former governor receiving several visitors during the period designated for the medical consultation.
“The images and post by Isa Kudan indicated that the arranged medical visit was utilised for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC. This is a clear violation of the court order,” the commission said.
The ICPC stated that it would draw the court’s attention to what it described as El-Rufai’s “flagrant disobedience” of the conditions attached to the medical visit.
The commission also announced the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, over alleged false statements, adding that investigations were ongoing.
The controversy followed El-Rufai’s failure to appear before the Kaduna State High Court for the commencement of his accelerated trial after insisting on seeing his personal doctor. The court subsequently adjourned the case until July 15 to await a decision by the Chief Judge on an application seeking the transfer of the matter to another judge.
El-Rufai is facing an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, fraud, money laundering, irregular award of contracts and unlawful handling of public funds during his tenure as Kaduna State governor. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and maintains that the case is politically motivated.
