The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of violating the conditions of a court-approved medical visit while in its custody.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, John Odey, the commission also announced the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, alleging that he made false statements during the course of the investigation.

The ICPC said it approved El-Rufai’s visit to a private wing of the National Hospital in Abuja in compliance with a court order and its obligation to protect the rights and welfare of persons in its custody.

According to the commission, El-Rufai failed to appear before the Kaduna State High Court on July 6, the first day of the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against him. The prosecution told the court that when officers arrived to take him to court, he declined, insisting on seeing his personal doctor.

The commission said El-Rufai had not previously requested the medical consultation and that its in-house doctor reported he had no immediate medical complaints, but said his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his lawyers, requested that he be examined by his personal physician.

Following the court’s adjournment of the case to July 15 to consider El-Rufai’s application seeking the trial judge’s recusal and a petition for the transfer of the case, the ICPC said it proceeded with the approved hospital visit. It added that its medical and security personnel respected El-Rufai’s privacy by remaining outside the consultation room at the family’s request.

However, the commission alleged that photographs later shared on Facebook by El-Rufai’s political associate, Isa Ashiru Kudan, showed the former governor receiving several visitors, including Professor Abubakar, during the period designated for the medical consultation.

According to the ICPC, the images suggested that the medical visit was used for activities beyond the scope approved by the court. The commission said it would bring the alleged breach to the court’s attention, describing it as a violation of the court order.

The anti-graft agency also confirmed that Professor Abubakar had been taken into custody for further investigation, maintaining that it remains committed to operating within the law and would not tolerate any abuse of its goodwill or court-approved privileges.