Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Kaduna has granted the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai, permission to seek urgent medical treatment for his deteriorating dental and eye conditions, but under the strict and watchful supervision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the anti‑graft agency confirmed in a statement. Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, gave the approval on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, following a compassionate plea by El‑Rufai’s defence counsel. According to a statement by ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, the defence team specifically requested that the former governor be allowed access to medical care at Mile Dental Clinic and Skipper Eye‑Q Hospital in Abuja. Ruling on the application, the court granted the request and directed the ICPC to convey El‑Rufai, under strict supervision, to medical facilities of his choice, including the named clinics, whenever the need arises, and to return him to custody immediately after such treatment. The court stressed that all such movements must remain under the strict oversight of the commission, underscoring the delicate balance between the defendant’s health needs and the state’s security concerns.
The approval came in the wake of El‑Rufai’s motion seeking a variation of the bail conditions earlier granted by the court. At the proceedings, El‑Rufai and his co‑defendant, Joel Adoga, are facing a 10‑count charge of alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering offences under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. At an earlier sitting, the court had admitted El‑Rufai to bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum, while the administrative bail granted to Adoga was adopted by the court. During Wednesday’s hearing, defence counsel, Oluwole Olaniyan (SAN), urged the court to vary the bail conditions, while ICPC lawyer, Dr. Agada Akogwu, opposed the application relying on a counter‑affidavit already filed. Following arguments from both sides, the court adjourned ruling on the variation application until Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The former governor, who has denied all charges and maintains his innocence, is currently being held in the custody of the ICPC, a situation that has drawn sharp reactions from his political allies and critics. El‑Rufai’s supporters have argued that his health challenges are genuine and that the ICPC’s initial refusal to facilitate medical access was inhumane. However, the anti‑graft agency has consistently maintained that it is committed to due process and that the former governor’s continued detention is lawful pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. In a related but separate development, the ICPC has also filed a counter‑affidavit opposing a fresh bail application filed by El‑Rufai before the Kaduna State High Court in the same corruption matter. At a resumed hearing on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the court adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for the hearing of the fresh bail application.
The court’s decision to grant El‑Rufai access to medical care under strict ICPC supervision is the latest twist in a legal drama that has captured national attention. The former governor, who was once a powerful and influential figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been battling a series of legal challenges since leaving office in May 2023. The ICPC had initially filed a 10‑count charge against El‑Rufai and Adoga, but later amended the charges to nine counts. The charges include allegations of advance fee fraud, money laundering, and abuse of office, all of which the former governor has vehemently denied, describing them as politically motivated persecution.
As the legal battle continues, El‑Rufai’s health has become a central issue. The court’s approval is expected to provide some relief, but the former governor’s fate ultimately hinges on the outcome of the trials at both the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court. The ICPC has pledged to fully comply with the court’s directive while ensuring lawful custody of the defendant pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. The commission has also said that the prosecution is being pursued diligently and in accordance with due process.
The Courtroom Circus, The Missing Defendant, And The Medical Escapade
The courtroom on Wednesday was a spectacle of legal manoeuvring, with El‑Rufai’s lead counsel, Olaniyan, arguing passionately that his client’s health was deteriorating and that the ICPC’s refusal to facilitate medical treatment was a violation of his fundamental rights. The prosecution, represented by Akogwu, countered that the commission had no objection to the former governor receiving medical care, provided it was done under strict supervision and without compromising the ongoing investigation. After a brief recess, Justice Aikawa returned with a ruling that sought to balance the two competing interests. The court also directed that any medical records generated from the treatment be made available to the court and the prosecution upon request.
The drama surrounding El‑Rufai’s health and legal battles has not been without its own strange twists. The ICPC had earlier issued a public notice warning that the former governor was not authorised to represent himself as a minister of a purported “government‑in‑exile” or engage in any public appearances or activities. The notice came after reports that El‑Rufai had been making phone calls and sending messages to associates, allegedly seeking to destabilise the current Kaduna State government. The ICPC has since denied the claims, describing them as baseless and politically motivated.
The case has also been marked by the curious absence of a key defendant. The ICPC had initially listed one Amadu Sule as a co‑defendant in the matter, but the anti‑graft agency was forced to separate the trial after Sule failed to appear in court on account of a medical condition. The court granted the application for amendment, allowing the prosecution to proceed with the arraignment of El‑Rufai independent of the second defendant. El‑Rufai was subsequently arraigned on nine amended charges under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017, and Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2017. He pleaded not guilty to all nine charges.
As the legal wrangling continues, the political fallout from El‑Rufai’s trials has already begun to reshape the political landscape in Kaduna and beyond. The former governor, once seen as a potential kingmaker in the North‑West, now finds himself isolated and on the defensive. His political allies have been largely silent, and his critics have seized on the opportunity to attack his legacy. The court’s decision to allow him medical treatment is unlikely to be the final chapter in this saga. The former governor’s legal team has vowed to fight the charges, and the ICPC has promised to press ahead with its prosecution. For now, El‑Rufai remains in the custody of the anti‑graft agency, his health monitored, his political future uncertain, and his legacy hanging in the balance.
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