ICPC denying El-Rufai access to urgent medical care despite court order, aide alleges
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has once again come under fire for allegedly denying former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, access to essential medical care while in its custody.
The accusation was made by El-Rufai’s media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, who stated that the former governor’s health condition is deteriorating significantly.
According to a statement released by Adekeye, El-Rufai has been suffering from a severe eye condition, with his eyes becoming “visibly swollen, reddish, and itchy.” Despite formal requests from both the former governor and his family for a hospital visit, ICPC officials have reportedly blocked all access to medical treatment.
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Adekeye revealed that although El-Rufai was taken to an eye clinic on Thursday, June 4, his condition worsened overnight, causing him severe discomfort and raising serious alarms for his family.
“Two ICPC officials checked and saw the condition of his eyes. This was an expected step to prompt either a hospital check or that a doctor would be summoned to attend to him,” Adekeye said. “However, no medical attention was arranged.”
The media aide further accused an operative named Henry, believed to be seconded to the ICPC from another agency, of deliberately misleading the family by falsely claiming that El-Rufai had refused to see a doctor—a claim Adekeye said was vigorously challenged by family members.
Alleged disregard for court orders
The statement emphasized that El-Rufai’s legal team had previously secured a valid court order mandating that the commission allow him access to his personal doctors.
Adekeye criticized the anti-graft agency for acting as though the former governor has no fundamental rights.
“The ICPC persists in treating him as if he is without rights and is undeserving of a duty of care while in their custody,” Adekeye stated. “No agency of the government is allowed to be indifferent to the medical condition of a person in their custody. The ICPC must respect human rights, obey court orders, and allow access to required medical treatment.”
This is not the first time El-Rufai’s camp has clashed with the commission over his welfare. In May, the former governor’s family raised similar alarms, accusing the ICPC of blocking his personal doctor from discussing vital medical test results. At the time, officials insisted on a written approval from the ICPC Chairman before the doctor could be admitted.
Furthermore, the family previously alleged that El-Rufai’s wife, Aichatou, was turned away at 7:00 PM while attempting to deliver his evening meal, with operatives citing an internal directive that bars food deliveries past 6:30 PM.
The ICPC has previously denied any allegations of wrongdoing or mistreatment regarding El-Rufai’s detention.
