The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged false statements linked to the ex-governor’s hospital visit while standing trial.
The anti-graft agency also accused El-Rufai of abusing the court-approved medical access granted to him by allegedly turning a scheduled medical consultation into a political meeting.
ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the commission had facilitated El-Rufai’s request for medical attention at the National Hospital, Abuja, under strict security arrangements.
According to the commission, its medical and security personnel acted professionally throughout the hospital visit and respected El-Rufai’s privacy by remaining outside the consultation room at the request of his family while his attending oncologist examined him.
The commission, however, alleged that the privilege was abused when Isa Ashiru Kudan, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, posted photographs on Facebook showing himself, Professor Abubakar and three others with El-Rufai during the period he was expected to be undergoing medical consultation.
The ICPC said the photographs, accompanied by a caption indicating they had concluded a meeting with the former governor, suggested that the hospital visit was used for political engagements beyond the scope of the court’s directive.
“The images and post 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 statement read.
The commission further alleged that the conduct amounted to an abuse of the professional courtesies extended to the former governor during his ongoing trial.
It said Professor Abubakar was taken into custody for allegedly making false statements and is currently being investigated.
“Professor Bello Abubakar, El-Rufai’s personal physician, has been arrested for making false statements and has been taken into custody for further investigation,” the commission stated.
The latest development comes days after the Kaduna State High Court rejected El-Rufai’s third application for bail in the nine-count corruption case instituted against him by the ICPC.
Justice Darius Khobo had ruled that the medical report tendered by the former governor could not support his bail request after the National Hospital reportedly disowned the document.
Despite refusing the bail application, the court directed the ICPC to grant El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal physicians and allow him to receive treatment at any specialised diagnostic or clinical facility of his choice within Nigeria while his trial continues.
Neither El-Rufai nor his legal team had publicly responded to the ICPC’s latest allegations as of the time of filing this report.
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