El-Rufai’s family accuses ICPC of denying ex-governor access to doctor, food
The family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of violating his constitutional rights by allegedly denying him access to his doctor and preventing his wife from delivering food to him in detention.
In a statement on Saturday signed by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the family described the actions of the commission as “an outright assault on the rule of law” and a violation of the former governor’s basic human rights.
He said this in reaction to reports that ICPC officials allegedly prevented El-Rufai’s personal doctor from seeing him and refused to allow his wife, Aichatou, deliver his evening meal at the commission’s facility on Thursday.
According to the statement, the doctor visited the ICPC headquarters around 3pm to discuss the results of medical tests recently conducted on the former governor but was denied access by officials who reportedly insisted on written approval from the ICPC Chairman.
“Officials at the agency blocked the doctor from seeing him, claiming that written permission from the ICPC Chairman was required. This directly flouts a clear court order granting Mallam Nasir El-Rufai unrestricted access to his doctors,” the statement read.
The family further alleged that El-Rufai’s wife was turned back when she arrived around 7pm with his evening meal.
“ICPC personnel turned her away, saying they had orders not to permit food deliveries after 6:30pm. This arbitrary rule is no less offensive than blocking his right to medical care,” the statement added.
The lawmaker condemned the alleged actions of the anti-corruption agency, insisting that no lawful detention justified denying access to medical care or family support.
“These acts are an outright assault on the rule of law and a clear violation of our father’s constitutional and human rights. No lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on an arbitrary curfew fixed by the ICPC,” he said.
