The media aide to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of denying his principal access to medical treatment despite his deteriorating health condition.
In a statement on Friday, Adekeye alleged that El-Rufai’s requests to see a doctor were ignored by officials of the anti-graft agency, even after he complained of severe discomfort caused by swollen, reddish and itchy eyes.
According to him, the former governor had earlier visited an eye clinic on June 4, but his condition reportedly worsened overnight, prompting fresh concerns from family members.
“ICPC officials denied requests by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to see a doctor. He complained about his eyes, which are visibly swollen, reddish and itchy. Family members drew the attention of officials to his condition and requested that he be allowed to access medical care,” Adekeye said.
He alleged that two officials of the commission personally observed El-Rufai’s condition but failed to arrange further medical attention.
The aide also accused an official identified as Henry of allegedly misleading family members by claiming that El-Rufai did not wish to see a doctor.
“Instead of facilitating medical attention, one Henry, who is believed to have been seconded to the commission from another agency, informed a family member that Mallam did not want to see a doctor. That claim was immediately challenged by the family because it was false and insensitive,” he said.
Adekeye further alleged that the commission had repeatedly attributed statements to the former governor that he never made.
He maintained that El-Rufai’s legal team had previously secured a court order permitting him access to his personal doctors and medical treatment while in custody, but claimed that the order had not been fully respected.
“The persistent eye condition led his lawyers to obtain a court order allowing him access to medical treatment. Despite this, the ICPC continues to act as though he has no rights and is undeserving of proper care while in custody,” he stated.
He argued that no government agency should deny medical care to any individual under its custody and urged the commission to comply with the court order and respect the former governor’s fundamental rights.
The allegation is the latest in a series of complaints by El-Rufai’s family since his detention.
In May, the family accused the commission of preventing his personal physician from meeting him to discuss the outcome of medical tests.
They also alleged that his wife, Aichatou El-Rufai, was denied access when she attempted to deliver his evening meal at the commission’s headquarters.
According to the family, officials informed her that food deliveries were not permitted after 6:30 p.m. due to internal regulations.
The ICPC had previously denied the allegations, insisting that it was acting within the law and in compliance with relevant procedures.
