Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has denied claims that his principal violated a court order by holding a political meeting during a recent medical visit to the National Hospital, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Adekeye described allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as inaccurate, insisting that the hospital visit was strictly for medical consultation.
The controversy follows the arrest of Bello Abubakar, el-Rufai’s personal physician, by the ICPC over alleged false statements related to the visit.
The commission, through its spokesperson, Okor Odey, had alleged that el-Rufai and his doctor abused privileges and violated a court order by turning the hospital visit into a political gathering. The claim was reportedly based on photographs shared online showing the former governor in the company of political associates, including Isa Ashiru Kudan, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State.
Reacting to the claims, Adekeye said the ICPC had prior knowledge of the medical consultation and disputed assertions that el-Rufai had no urgent health concerns.
According to him, the family initially requested a 5 p.m. appointment at the hospital to ensure minimal public attention, but the ICPC allegedly rescheduled the visit to 10 a.m. without prior notice.
“After the consultation with his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, Malam El-Rufai remained in a public area of the hospital’s private wing for about one hour while awaiting a written medical report requested by the ICPC,” Adekeye said.
He explained that individuals who visited el-Rufai during that period either requested to see him or encountered him coincidentally while he waited.
“Some people became aware of his presence and requested to see him, which was granted, while others simply greeted him upon sighting him, as is common with public figures,” he added.
Adekeye argued that the ICPC’s claim that the visit was turned into a political meeting ignored the commission’s own role in rescheduling the appointment to a busier time and maintaining personnel at the location.
He further stated that the anti-graft agency failed to specify the court order allegedly violated.
“The only existing order, issued by Justice Aikawa on April 1, 2026, directs that Malam El-Rufai be granted access to medical care while in custody. It does not impose restrictions on who may see him during such visits,” Adekeye said.
He also called for the immediate and unconditional release of Abubakar, pending clarification of the allegations against him.
Meanwhile, the ICPC is prosecuting el-Rufai on separate criminal charges before the Kaduna State High Court and the Federal High Court in Kaduna. While he has been granted bail by the Federal High Court, he is yet to meet the conditions. His bail applications at the Kaduna State High Court have been denied.
