The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has condemned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over the arrest of the personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement on Tuesday, the ADC alleged that operatives assaulted the former governor’s wife during a hospital visit in Abuja, describing the incident as political persecution rather than law enforcement.
The party said El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical treatment while in custody. According to the ADC, hospital staff recommended immediate admission, but ICPC officials overruled the advice and insisted on returning him to detention.
The ADC stated that a protest by the former governor’s wife and his physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, led to a confrontation during which the doctor was arrested.
The ADC characterized the incident as a display of political persecution rather than legitimate law enforcement.
National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the denial of medical care and restricted access to family and legal counsel violate constitutional protections and judicial orders.
“Such conduct belongs to authoritarian regimes that use state institutions to break political opponents rather than to uphold justice,” the statement read.h
The party has demanded that the ICPC provide an immediate explanation for the alleged denial of access to the former governor’s family and physician. It also called on the federal government to ensure that the former governor is granted his constitutional rights, including unrestricted access to his legal team and medical personnel.
The ICPC, however, maintains a different account of the day’s events. In a statement released shortly before the ADC’s critique, the commission announced the arrest of Professor Abubakar for allegedly making false statements.
Furthermore, the agency accused El-Rufai of abusing the court-approved medical visit.
The ICPC alleged that the former governor used the hospital appointment to hold a meeting with political associates instead of undergoing the required medical consultation.
The commission stated that it intends to formally bring this alleged violation of the court’s order to the attention of the presiding judge.
