El-Rufai denied medical care, doctor arrested – ADC Raises Alarm

• The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the ICPC of denying former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai access to adequate medical care while in custody, describing the situation as a violation of his constitutional rights.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai was denied adequate medical care while in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party claimed El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for treatment but was returned to detention despite doctors allegedly recommending that he be admitted.

According to the ADC, a confrontation followed after El-Rufai’s wife and personal physician protested the decision, during which the party alleged that his wife was assaulted and his doctor was arrested.

“The world should know today that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is holding a political prisoner in Nigeria by the name of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai,” the statement read.

The party described the alleged actions of the anti-graft agency as “an assault on the Constitution, human dignity and the most basic principles of justice and human rights.”

It further accused the Tinubu administration of using security and law enforcement agencies to target political opponents.

“It is no longer about Mallam El-Rufai alone. It is about whether Nigeria remains a constitutional democracy or has descended into a republic where law enforcement agencies have become instruments of political persecution,” the party stated.

The ADC called on the ICPC to explain why El-Rufai was allegedly denied access to his family and personal doctor despite concerns over his health.

It also questioned the legal basis for the reported restrictions placed on the former governor and demanded an explanation for the alleged assault on his wife and the arrest of his physician.

Among its demands, the party called for immediate and unrestricted access for El-Rufai to his family, legal representatives and personal medical practitioners.

The ADC also urged authorities to review the former governor’s bail conditions, improve his detention conditions, fully comply with constitutional safeguards for detainees and provide greater transparency regarding the restrictions imposed on him.

The ICPC has yet to publicly respond to the latest allegations made by the opposition party.