ICPC Arrests El-Rufai’s Doctor After Alleging Medical Visit Was Used for Political Meeting

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, after alleging that a court-approved medical visit to the National Hospital in Abuja was used as cover for a political gathering rather than a legitimate medical consultation.

The ICPC disclosed that the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8 for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against El-Rufai, but that the former governor failed to appear in court on July 6. When officers arrived to convey him to court, the commission said El-Rufai declined to accompany them, insisting on seeing his personal doctor first.

Photos of Visitors Triggered the Arrest

The ICPC said it agreed to a supervised hospital visit at the private wing of National Hospital on July 7, with officers remaining outside the consultation room while the attending oncologist was said to be examining El-Rufai. However, the commission alleged it later discovered photographs posted on Facebook by political associate Isa Ashiru Kudan, showing El-Rufai with several visitors, including Professor Abubakar, during what was designated as the medical consultation period.

The ICPC described the images as evidence that the arranged medical visit was used for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the commission, and announced the arrest of Professor Abubakar for further investigation. The ADC sharply criticised the arrest, alleging political persecution and claiming the doctor was forcibly taken away in the presence of El-Rufai’s family.

Commission Warns Against Abuse of Goodwill

The ICPC said it had managed El-Rufai and other suspects in custody with patience, professionalism, and courtesy, but warned that such goodwill must not be taken for granted. The commission said it would bring the flagrant disobedience of court orders to the attention of the courts and would not allow any suspect to abuse the privileges extended to them. Consequently, the El-Rufai case has escalated dramatically, moving from a straightforward trial adjournment into a confrontation between the ICPC and the former governor’s legal and medical team over the boundaries of supervised detention.