ICPC Allegedly Denies ADC Leaders Access to El-Rufai in Custody

ADC leaders, including Rauf Aregbesola and Bolaji Abdullahi, were reportedly denied access to former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai at the ICPC facility amid growing concerns over his detention conditions.

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were reportedly denied access to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently being held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The ADC delegation, which visited the ICPC facility on Friday, included the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, and Secretary of the ADC Manifesto and Policy Committee, Salihu Lukman.

The party leaders were said to have visited the anti-graft agency in an attempt to see El-Rufai but were allegedly refused access. As of Friday afternoon, the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear.

The development comes amid growing concerns over the welfare and treatment of the former governor while in detention.

Earlier, the ICPC dismissed allegations that El-Rufai was being denied access to food, medical care, and family members during his stay in custody.

Speaking at a press briefing, ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, described the allegations as “false and misleading.”

According to him, visitors are permitted into ICPC detention facilities between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., adding that El-Rufai’s wife reportedly arrived outside the approved visiting hours.

Odey further stated that authorised visitors, including family members, lawyers, and medical personnel, were allowed access under proper supervision.

However, members of the El-Rufai family insisted that the former governor was denied access to his personal doctors despite a prior court order issued by the Kaduna High Court granting him unrestricted access to legal representatives and physicians.

The family also alleged that after the ICPC’s in-house doctor recommended further medical examination, access to external medical attention was blocked.

“When you see a doctor and you run tests, you are expected to see the doctor back so that he explains what the problem is,” a family member said.

El-Rufai’s second wife, Hasiat, also alleged that he was denied further access to medical care.