The Kaduna State High Court has dismissed a third bail application by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is facing charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)..
The application was filed on health grounds, with a medical report from National Hospital, Abuja claiming El-Rufai had advanced metastatic prostate cancer that could not be treated in Nigeria. The ICPC countered with a disclaimer from the hospital.
Chief Medical Director, Prof. Muhammad Raji Mahmud, said records showed no evidence the ex-governor was ever treated there, and that the report was issued without the hospital’s knowledge or approval.
In his ruling on June 29, 2026, Justice D. H. Khobo stated that the document had been fundamentally discredited. The court held that because the institution named on the letterhead had formally disowned the report, it could not be used as a basis to grant an exceptional request for bail. With the evidence deemed unreliable, the court found no sufficient grounds to exercise judicial discretion in favor of the applicant.
While denying the bail request, the court ordered the ICPC to ensure the defendant retains unrestricted access to his personal physicians. The Commission was also directed to provide the necessary security for the defendant to visit any specialized medical or diagnostic facility of his choosing within Nigeria throughout the duration of his trial.
The ICPC welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a validation of the requirement that medical bail applications must be backed by credible and verifiable documentation.
The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting its prosecutions with transparency and full respect for the constitutional rights of the accused.
