Mohammed Bello, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has alleged that officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) prevented his father from receiving medical attention and family visits at its detention facility on Friday.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 19 over allegations of financial misconduct during his time as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.
He was previously granted temporary release to attend his mother’s funeral.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted el-Rufai over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, calling for a full investigation by anti corruption agencies.
On April 13, 2026, the ICPC arraigned him at the Kaduna High Court on an amended nine count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
In a statement released on Saturday, Mohammed Bello described the agency’s actions as a “serious attack” on his father’s fundamental rights.
“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,” the statement reads.
“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.”
He further argued that the action by ICPC officials “directly flouts a clear court order granting el-Rufai “unrestricted access to his doctors”.
Mohammed Bello also said his father was denied access to his second wife, Aichatou, who brought him food for the evening meal.
“ICPC personnel turned her away, saying they had orders not to permit food deliveries after 6:30pm,” he said.
“This arbitrary rule is no less offensive than blocking his right to medical care.”
He condemned the development as an assault on the rule of law and a violation of his 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,” he said.
He added that the family is demanding full respect for el-Rufai’s constitutional rights, stressing that “we will no longer accept this pattern of intimidation dressed up as protocol”.
