ADC Slams ICPC Over El-Rufai Doctor’s Arrest, Alleges Wife Assaulted

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has condemned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over the arrest of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s personal physician, alleging that the anti-graft agency also assaulted the former governor’s wife during a hospital visit.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party accused the ICPC of denying El-Rufai access to proper medical care and violating his constitutional rights while he remains in custody.

According to the ADC, El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical treatment, where doctors reportedly recommended that he be admitted due to his health condition.

The party alleged that despite the medical recommendation, ICPC officials insisted on returning the former governor to custody, leading to a confrontation involving his wife and personal physician.

The statement claimed that protests by both individuals resulted in a scuffle during which El-Rufai’s wife was allegedly assaulted, while his physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, was arrested by the commission.

The ADC described the development as political persecution rather than legitimate law enforcement, accusing the Federal Government of undermining constitutional rights.

It further alleged that denying El-Rufai unrestricted access to his family, lawyers and physician amounted to a violation of court orders and democratic principles.

The party argued that no democratic government should prevent a detainee from receiving adequate medical care or seeing close family members, insisting such actions are inconsistent with the rule of law.

The ADC also demanded that the ICPC provide an explanation for the alleged denial of access to El-Rufai’s family and physician, questioning the legal basis for the commission’s actions.

It called for unrestricted access to the former governor by his family, legal team and personal doctors, a review of his bail conditions and full compliance with constitutional safeguards governing the treatment of detainees.

The statement came shortly after the ICPC announced the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar for allegedly making false statements.

The commission also accused El-Rufai of abusing the conditions of a court-approved medical visit by allegedly receiving political associates during the hospital appointment instead of restricting the visit to medical consultation, an allegation the ADC rejected while demanding greater transparency from the anti-graft agency.