The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement by its spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, the commission said it had facilitated El-Rufai’s medical visit in compliance with a court directive and its statutory obligation to respect the rights and welfare of persons in its custody.
According to the ICPC, the Kaduna State High Court had scheduled an expedited hearing of criminal charges against the former governor for July 6, 7, and 8, 2026, but he failed to appear on the first day of proceedings.
The commission stated that its prosecution team informed the court that El-Rufai refused to accompany the officers sent to escort him, insisting instead on seeing his personal physician.
However, the hospital visit transformed into a political meeting, with photos of the gathering shared on Facebook yesterday around 2:00 PM by Isa Ashiru Kudan, a political associate of the former governor.
Odey maintained that this development clearly demonstrates the visit was exploited for purposes outside the scope authorized by both the court and the ICPC.
“The prosecution further informed the court that no prior request had been made to the Commission for such medical consultation and that, when asked by the Commission’s medical doctor, the defendant reportedly indicated that he had no immediate medical complaints but stated that his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his legal counsel, had requested that he see his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar,” the statement read.
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Backstory…
The arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar comes amid the widening legal battle involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who has been facing multiple corruption and money laundering charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In recent weeks, El-Rufai’s legal team had repeatedly sought bail on medical grounds, relying on a medical report which allegedly stated that he was suffering from advanced prostate cancer requiring treatment unavailable in Nigeria. However, the National Hospital, Abuja, later disowned the report, prompting the Kaduna State High Court to reject the bail application after questioning the document’s authenticity.
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