- ICPC Denied El-Rufai Access To Doctor, Food – Family Alleges
- The family claimed his wife was prevented from delivering food.
- They described the actions as violations of court orders and rights.
The family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of violating his constitutional rights by allegedly denying him access to medical care and restricting food deliveries while in custody.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in a statement issued on Thursday, the family claimed that El-Rufai remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency despite a court order granting him unrestricted access to his doctors.
According to the statement, the former governor’s personal physician visited the ICPC headquarters at about 3 pm on May 15 to discuss the outcome of recent medical tests conducted on him.
The family alleged that officials of the commission refused to allow the doctor access to El-Rufai, insisting that written approval from the ICPC chairman was required before any medical consultation could take place.
They described the action as a direct violation of the court order and an infringement on the former governor’s fundamental rights.
The statement further alleged that El-Rufai’s wife, Aichatou El-Rufai, was also denied access when she arrived at the commission’s headquarters around 7 pm with his evening meal.
According to the family, officials informed her that food deliveries were not allowed after 6:30 pm due to internal directives.
Condemning the development, the family said no lawful detention should prevent access to medical care or basic family support.
“No lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on arbitrary rules,” the statement read.
The family also accused the ICPC of engaging in what it described as “intimidation dressed up as protocol” and called on the commission to respect all constitutional rights due to the former governor.
“We will no longer accept this pattern of intimidation dressed up as protocol. The ICPC must abide by the very laws it claims to enforce,” the statement added.
The family disclosed that efforts were ongoing to ensure El-Rufai eventually received his evening meal while in custody.
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