The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed criminal charges against Dr. Bello Abubakar, a physician linked to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations that he issued a false medical report allegedly used to support the ex-governor’s bail application.
According to court documents filed by the anti-corruption agency, Abubakar, an oncology consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, is facing a four-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, abuse of office, and the submission of false information relating to a medical report prepared for El-Rufai.
The ICPC alleged that the doctor authored a document titled “Medical Report and Expert Opinion for Urgent Medical Intervention,” dated June 10, 2026.
The commission claimed the report was tendered before the Kaduna State High Court as part of efforts to secure El-Rufai’s release on medical grounds during ongoing legal proceedings.
According to the agency, the report contained false information and was intended to influence the court’s consideration of the former governor’s bail request.
In the first count, prosecutors accused Abubakar of knowingly providing information capable of misleading a public officer, alleging that the document was prepared to influence official decisions in relation to El-Rufai’s case.
The second charge alleged that the medical consultant abused his office by issuing the report despite allegedly knowing that its contents did not accurately reflect the patient’s actual medical condition. The ICPC argued that the report was intended to confer an undue advantage in the ongoing court proceedings.
The anti-graft agency further alleged that Abubakar acted in collaboration with one Aliyu Bala in preparing information that was later relied upon in a further affidavit filed in support of El-Rufai’s bail application.
In the fourth count, the commission accused the doctor of presenting the report in a manner that suggested it had been officially authorised and endorsed by the National Hospital, Abuja, despite alleging that the hospital neither approved nor sanctioned the document.
As part of its evidence, the ICPC listed the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Raji Mahmud, among its key witnesses.
According to the commission, Mahmud is expected to testify that the medical report was issued without following the hospital’s established medical procedures and that it was never approved by the hospital’s management before being used in support of the bail application.
BACKSTORY:
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is one of Nigeria’s foremost anti-corruption agencies, established under the ICPC Act of 2000 to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences in the public sector. The commission is empowered to prosecute cases involving abuse of office, forgery, bribery, and the submission of false information to public institutions or the courts.
Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State who served from 2015 to 2023, has remained a prominent figure in Nigeria’s political landscape. Since leaving office, he has been involved in legal proceedings that have attracted significant public attention. His bail application, which reportedly relied in part on a medical report, became a focal point after questions were raised about the authenticity and approval of the document.
The latest charges stem from allegations that Dr. Bello Abubakar, an oncology consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, prepared a medical report that was allegedly used to support El-Rufai’s request for bail on health grounds. The ICPC claims the report contained false information and was presented in a manner suggesting it had the official backing of the National Hospital, despite alleging that the institution neither authorised nor approved it.
If proven, the allegations raise broader concerns about the integrity of expert medical evidence presented before Nigerian courts. Medical reports often play a crucial role in bail applications and other judicial proceedings, making their accuracy and authenticity essential to ensuring fair administration of justice.
The case is expected to test the prosecution’s allegations and the defence’s response in court, with the outcome likely to attract widespread attention because of its connection to a high-profile political figure and the broader issues of accountability, professional ethics, and the credibility of expert evidence in judicial proceedings.
