Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Family accuses ICPC of denying El-Rufai access to food, medical care

The ICPC told the Peoples Gazette that the family’s claims “are not the facts, as they should be.”

and • May 16, 2026
El-Rufai and the ICPC logo.
El-Rufai and the ICPC logo.

The family of a former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission denied his doctor from visiting him unless he gets a written approval from its chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu.

The family also alleged that the ICPC officials claimed they had been given orders to fix a 6:30 p.m. restriction against delivery of dinner to Mr El-Rufai, in their custody over alleged money laundering charges.

Mr El-Rufai’s wife, Assab Aichatou Djibril, in a post on X, on Friday said, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s doctor was at the ICPC today, to follow up on medical tests recently taken by his patient. The doctor was prevented from seeing him by operatives who insisted that the doctor must present written approval by their chairman. This is a brazen violation of an explicit court order that Mallam Nasir @elrufai must be allowed unfettered access to his medical doctors.

“In addition, I, his wife, brought his dinner as usual at about 7pm today, 15 May 2026. ICPC officials also denied me access, saying that they would not accept delivery of dinner after 6:30pm. This is just as bad as denying his right to medical visitation and we will not stand for it.”

A son of the former governor, Bello, who is a House of Representatives member representing Kaduna North federal constituency, in a statement, described the ICPC’s action as an assault on the rule of law, and a violation of his father’s constitutional and human rights.

He wrote, “Our father, Mallam Nasir @elrufai, is still being held by the ICPC. Today, 15 May 2026, we witnessed two distinct yet equally serious attacks on his basic rights. First, his personal doctor visited the ICPC at about 3pm to discuss the results of medical tests recently conducted on our father. 

“Officials at the agency blocked the doctor from seeing him, claiming that written permission from the ICPC chairman was required. This directly flouts a clear court order granting Mallam Nasir El‑Rufai unrestricted access to his doctors.

“Second, his wife, Aunty Aichatou, brought his evening meal at around 7pm as she normally does. ICPC personnel turned her away, saying they had orders not to permit food deliveries after 6:30pm. This arbitrary rule is no less offensive than blocking his right to medical care.

“These acts are an outright assault on the rule of law and a clear violation of our father’s constitutional and human rights. No lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on an arbitrary curfew fixed by the ICPC. Shame on them as an institution.”

Insisting that his father’s constitutional rights be fully respected, he said the family would no longer accept such intimidation dressed up as protocol, and urged the agency to abide by the laws it was claiming to enforce.

Contacted on Saturday for comments on the allegations, the ICPC told the Peoples Gazette that the family’s claims “are not the facts, as they should be,” noting that the commission would respond to the issue soon.

The ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, said, “I’m aware, I’ve just been briefed about this because it happened after I left the office yesterday. However, the facts are being put together, and at the appropriate time, the ICPC will respond to all these issues, which could be anytime now. When we make an official response, you will be aware. I’ll let you know. The ICPC will make an official response very soon. What you have there are not the facts, as they should be. With time, we’ll make an official position.”

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