The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over what it described as an abuse of a court-approved medical visit.
The anti-graft agency said the arrest followed alleged violations of the conditions under which El-Rufai, who is currently in the commission’s custody, was allowed to visit the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical consultation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the ICPC’s spokesperson, John Odey, the commission said the doctor was arrested after investigations showed that the hospital visit was allegedly used for purposes beyond those approved by the court.
According to the commission, the Kaduna State High Court had granted El-Rufai permission to receive medical attention and consult his personal physician under strict security arrangements while he remains in the custody of the ICPC.
The agency explained that it complied with the court’s order and escorted the former governor to the National Hospital to enable him to meet Professor Abubakar.
However, the commission said events at the hospital took a different turn when the visit allegedly became a political meeting.
It said photographs from the hospital, posted on Facebook by one of El-Rufai’s political associates, Isa Ashiri Kudan, around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, suggested that the visit was used for activities outside the scope of the court’s approval.
The ICPC said it viewed the development as a violation of the court order and an abuse of the privilege granted to the former governor.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has expressed concern over developments surrounding a court-approved medical visit granted to former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, who is currently in the Commission’s custody,” the statement said.
The commission also provided details of what happened during proceedings before the Kaduna State High Court, where El-Rufai is facing criminal charges.
According to the statement, the court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for accelerated hearing of the case. However, the former governor was absent on the first day of the trial.
The prosecution told the court that when ICPC officers arrived to take El-Rufai to the courtroom, he declined to accompany them.
Instead, he reportedly insisted on seeing his personal physician before appearing in court.
The prosecution further informed the court that no prior request had been submitted to the commission seeking approval for such a medical consultation.
The ICPC also said its in-house medical doctor examined the former governor after he requested to see his personal physician.
According to the commission, El-Rufai reportedly told its doctor that he had no immediate medical complaints.
The statement added that the former governor explained that the request for the consultation came from his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of the lawyers representing him in the ongoing criminal case.
Despite the circumstances, the commission said it respected the court’s decision and made arrangements to facilitate the visit.
It maintained that the permission granted by the court was strictly for medical purposes and not for political engagements or meetings with associates.
The ICPC said the conduct of those involved raised serious concerns about compliance with the court order.
It added that the arrest of Professor Abubakar formed part of ongoing investigations into the alleged misuse of the court-approved hospital visit.
The commission did not immediately disclose the specific charges that could be brought against the physician or whether additional arrests would follow.
Professor Abubakar has long been known as El-Rufai’s personal doctor and has reportedly attended to the former governor over several years.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the doctor nor El-Rufai’s legal team had publicly responded to the allegations made by the ICPC.
The development comes amid the ongoing prosecution of the former Kaduna governor, whose legal battle has attracted widespread public attention.
Although the ICPC statement did not provide details of the criminal charges before the Kaduna State High Court, the case has remained one of the most closely watched legal proceedings involving a former state governor.
The commission stressed that individuals granted privileges under court orders are expected to comply strictly with the conditions attached to such approvals.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing the law without interference and ensuring that judicial processes are not undermined.
The case has also renewed public debate about the balance between the rights of suspects in custody and the need to preserve the integrity of court orders and ongoing investigations.