The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arrested Prof. Bello Abubakar, personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over alleged false statements made in connection with a court-approved medical visit granted to the former governor.
The anti-graft agency also accused El-Rufai of abusing the medical visit by allegedly receiving political associates while he was expected to be undergoing medical consultation.
The allegations were contained in a statement issued by the ICPC on Tuesday.
According to the Commission, the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8 for accelerated hearing in the criminal charges pending against the former governor. However, El-Rufai reportedly failed to appear in court on the first day of proceedings.
The ICPC said its counsel informed the court that when officers prepared to take the former governor from custody to court, he declined to accompany them, insisting that he wanted to see his personal physician.
The Commission stated that no prior request had been made for the medical consultation. It added that when its medical personnel asked El-Rufai about his condition, he allegedly said he had no immediate medical complaint but explained that his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his lawyers, requested that he consult Abubakar.
Following submissions by parties, the court adjourned the matter to July 15 to hear El-Rufai’s application seeking the recusal of the trial judge and to await the directive of the Kaduna State Chief Judge on a pending petition seeking the transfer of the case.
Despite the adjournment, the ICPC said it approved the request for medical attention in compliance with the court’s directive and its duty to respect the rights and welfare of persons in custody.
The Commission said El-Rufai was taken to the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday under security escort. It added that its medical and security personnel remained outside the consultation room at the request of the former governor’s family to allow him privacy during the examination.
However, the ICPC alleged that it later discovered photographs posted on Facebook by one of El-Rufai’s political associates, Isa Ashiru Kudan, showing the former governor in company of Abubakar, Kudan and three other persons.
The Commission said the post suggested that the hospital visit was used for activities outside the medical consultation approved by the court.
“The arranged medical visit was utilised for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC,” the Commission said, describing the development as a violation of the court’s order.
The anti-graft agency said it would bring the matter before the court, adding that the professional courtesies extended to El-Rufai while in custody had been abused.
It further disclosed that Abubakar had been taken into custody for further investigation over alleged false statements.
The ICPC maintained that it would continue to act within the law but warned that it would not tolerate what it described as abuse of its goodwill by any individual or group.
El-Rufai is currently facing multiple criminal cases instituted by the ICPC in Kaduna and before the Federal High Court. He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The former governor has also repeatedly accused the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government of using the allegations to stifle him and keep him in detention.
In one of the cases, El-Rufai is facing allegations bordering on abuse of office, fraud, money laundering and procurement-related offences. He is also facing a separate federal prosecution over alleged unlawful interception of telephone communications.
According to amended charges filed by the ICPC, El-Rufai, while serving as governor of Kaduna State, allegedly approved the award of a contract for the procurement, survey planning, final design and installation of a Closed-Circuit Television surveillance system in Kaduna metropolis at a reviewed cost of N8.68 billion.
The Commission alleged that the contract was awarded to Singularity Network Security Limited, a company it claimed lacked the required experience and qualifications for the project, in violation of public procurement laws.
It further alleged that proceeds from the transaction were transferred through several companies and individuals.
The charges also include allegations relating to possession, receipt and movement of funds reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
El-Rufai and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
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