The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, over alleged false statements following what the commission described as a violation of a court-approved medical visit.
The commission also accused El-Rufai of abusing the privilege granted by the court to seek medical attention while in ICPC custody.
A statement issued on Tuesday by ICPC spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, confirmed the development.
The commission disclosed that the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against the former governor.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai failed to appear in court on the first day of hearing after declining to accompany officers to the courtroom, insisting instead on consulting his personal physician.
The commission said prosecutors informed the court that no prior request had been made for the medical consultation.
It added that when questioned by the commission’s medical doctor, El-Rufai reportedly said he had no immediate medical complaints but explained that his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his legal counsel, requested that he see Professor Bello Abubakar.
The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 15, 2026, to hear El-Rufai’s application seeking the trial judge’s recusal and to await the directive of the Chief Judge of Kaduna State on a pending petition seeking the transfer of the case.
The ICPC said it nevertheless complied with the court’s directive by facilitating the hospital visit under security supervision.
According to the commission, officers from its medical and security teams remained outside the consultation room at the request of El-Rufai’s family while the attending oncologist examined him.
However, the commission said it later discovered photographs posted on Facebook by Isa Ashiru Kudan, one of El-Rufai’s political associates, showing that a meeting allegedly took place during the hospital visit.
The statement said the images, posted at about 2 p.m., showed El-Rufai alongside Professor Abubakar, Isa Kudan and three others.
The commission stated: “The images and post by Isa Kudan indicated that the arranged medical visit was utilised for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC.
“This is a clear violation of the court order!”
The agency said it had been “very patient, professional, and courteous” in handling El-Rufai and other suspects in its custody but added that its goodwill had been abused.
“The ICPC will bring to the attention of the Courts the flagrant disobedience of court orders by the defendant,” it said.
“The professional and humane nature of the ICPC should not be taken for granted,” it added.
The ICPC confirmed that Professor Bello Abubakar had been taken into custody for further investigation over alleged false statements.
It also reiterated its commitment to operating within the law, stressing that it “will not tolerate, under any guise, the abuse of its goodwill by anybody or group of persons.”
