ICPC confirms arrest of El-Rufai’s personal doctor, gives reasons

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who is currently in the Commission’s custody has been arrested for making false statements.

J. Okor Odey, the Spokesperson/Head, Media and Public Communications of ICPC confirmed the arrest of the medical doctor in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.

He said the arrest of the medical doctor followed developments surrounding a court-approved medical visit granted to El-Rufai, who was expected to be at the Kaduna State High Court between July 6, 7, and 8, 2026, for an accelerated hearing of the criminal charges pending against him.

ICPC noted in the statement that El-Rufai did not appear before the court on Monday which was the first day of the scheduled accelerated trial.

The Commission said it subsequently informed the court that when its officers were preparing to convey the former governor to court, he declined to follow them as he insisted that he wished to consult his personal doctor.

ICPC said it also informed the court that El-Rufai did not make any prior request to the Commission for such medical consultation.

However, the Commission said the former governor had told its medical doctor that while he had no immediate medical complaints, his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his legal counsels, had requested that he sees his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar.

ICPC said the Court had subsequently adjourned further proceedings until July 15, 2026, to hear the defendant’s application seeking the trial judge’s recusal and to await the directive of the Chief Judge of Kaduna State on the pending petition for transfer of the case after arguments by the counsels.

ICPC said despite the controversies, it allowed El-Rufai request to see his medical doctor in full compliance with the court’s directives as well as its statutory obligation to respect the rights, dignity and welfare of persons in its custody under appropriate security arrangements.

It added that during the hospital visit today, Tuesday, 7th July 2026, at the private wing of the National Hospital, FCT, its officers and security team conducted themselves professionally and respected the former governor’s privacy by remaining outside the consultation room while the attending oncologist was purportedly examining El-Rufai.

But ICPC said a picture later posted on the social media by one of the political associates of the former Kaduna governor indicated that rather than undergoing medical examination, he was holding a political meeting in the National Hospital.

“The Commission was, however, subsequently confronted with photographs posted on Facebook at 2:00 pm Nigerian time by one of his political associates, Isa Ashiru Kudan, stating categorically that they had just concluded a meeting with El Rufai. The picture posted on Facebook also had Professor Abubakar, Isa Kudan, and three others with El Rufai at a time he was supposedly having a 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!” ICPC said.

The Commission accused El-Rufai of abusing the courtesies it has extended to him like the other defendants who are in its custody.

“However, it has become very clear that these professional courtesies have been abused and will therefore no longer be tolerated. The ICPC will bring to the attention of the Courts the flagrant disobedience of court orders by the defendant.

“The professional and human nature of the ICPC should not be taken for granted.

“Professor Bello Abubakar has been arrested for making false statements.

“At this moment, Professor Bello Abubakar, El Rufai’s personal physician, has been taken into custody for further investigation.

“The ICPC reiterates its resolve to continue to operate within the ambit of the law at all times.

“The Commission also wants to make it categorically clear that it will not tolerate, under any guise, the abuse of its goodwill by anybody or group of persons,” Odey concluded in the statement.