Anti-graft agency says Professor Bello Abubakar was taken into custody after a court-approved medical visit allegedly turned into a political meeting

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, over allegations of making false statements in connection with a court-approved medical visit.

Also read: ADC Calls El-Rufai ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ in Strong Resolution

The development was announced on Tuesday in a statement by the Commission’s spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey.

According to the ICPC, the arrest followed events surrounding a medical visit granted to El-Rufai, who is currently in the Commission’s custody and was expected to appear before the Kaduna State High Court between July 6 and July 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against him.

The Commission said El-Rufai failed to appear in court on Monday, the opening day of the scheduled proceedings.

ICPC explained that it informed the court its officers had prepared to transport the former governor to the courtroom, but he declined, insisting that he wanted to consult his personal physician.

According to the agency, El-Rufai had not submitted any prior request for a medical consultation before that time.

The Commission said its own medical doctor examined the former governor, who reportedly stated that he had no immediate health complaints but wished to see his personal physician because his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his legal counsel, requested the consultation.

Following submissions by counsel, the court 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 requesting the transfer of the case.

Despite the circumstances, the ICPC said it approved the medical visit in compliance with the court’s directive and in recognition of the rights and welfare of persons in its custody.

The Commission stated that its officers escorted El-Rufai to the private wing of the National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday, where they remained outside the consultation room to respect doctor-patient confidentiality while the examination was purportedly taking place.

However, the agency said it later discovered photographs posted on social media by one of El-Rufai’s political associates, Isa Ashiru Kudan, showing several people meeting with the former governor during the period allocated for the medical consultation.

“The Commission was, however, subsequently confronted with photographs posted on Facebook at 2:00 pm Nigerian time by one of his political associates, Isa Ashiru Kudan, stating categorically that they had just concluded a meeting with El-Rufai,” the statement said.

According to the ICPC, the photographs showed Professor Abubakar, Isa Kudan and three other individuals with El-Rufai during what was expected to be a private medical consultation.

“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 Commission alleged.

The anti-corruption agency further accused the former governor of abusing the professional courtesies extended to him while in custody.

“However, it has become very clear that these professional courtesies have been abused and will therefore no longer be tolerated. The ICPC will bring to the attention of the Courts the flagrant disobedience of court orders by the defendant.

“The professional and human nature of the ICPC should not be taken for granted.

“Professor Bello Abubakar has been arrested for making false statements.

“At this moment, Professor Bello Abubakar, El-Rufai’s personal physician, has been taken into custody for further investigation,” the statement added.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to operating within the law and warned that it would not permit any individual or group to exploit the goodwill extended to suspects in its custody.

The ICPC Arrests El-Rufai’s Doctor development marks another twist in the legal proceedings involving the former Kaduna governor.

While the Commission has publicly outlined the basis for the arrest, the allegations remain those of the prosecution, and Professor Abubakar would be entitled to respond to them through the appropriate legal process.

Also read: El-Rufai’s Wife Threatens ICPC in Defamation Clash

The substantive criminal case against El-Rufai is scheduled to resume on July 15, when the court is also expected to consider applications relating to the trial’s future conduct.