Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABUJA, Nigeria — June 6, 2026 — Fresh controversy has emerged over the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, after his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, alleged that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) failed to provide medical attention despite complaints about a worsening eye condition.
In a statement released on Friday, Adekeye said El-Rufai developed swollen, reddish and itchy eyes while in ICPC custody and repeatedly requested access to medical care. According to the aide, the former governor's requests were allegedly ignored despite concerns about the deterioration of his condition.
Adekeye claimed that El-Rufai informed officials that his eyes had become increasingly swollen and uncomfortable and that he needed to see a doctor for proper examination and treatment. The aide alleged that no doctor was provided despite the complaints.
The latest allegation forms part of a broader dispute between El-Rufai's family and the anti-corruption agency over conditions surrounding his detention. The former governor's relatives and associates have previously accused the commission of restricting access to doctors, family members and legal representatives.
The ICPC, however, has consistently denied allegations that El-Rufai was denied medical care or access to visitors. The commission previously described similar claims as false and misleading, insisting that established procedures were followed throughout his detention.
According to ICPC spokesperson John Odey, the commission permits supervised access to authorised visitors, including lawyers, relatives and medical personnel, subject to security protocols. The agency has maintained that its visitation policies apply equally to all detainees regardless of their status.
In an earlier response to allegations from El-Rufai's family, the ICPC stated that the former governor had been granted permission to visit both a dentist and an eye specialist while in custody and that officials accompanied him during those visits. The commission argued that claims suggesting he was denied medical attention did not reflect the facts available to investigators.
The dispute over medical care intensified in May when members of El-Rufai's family alleged that a doctor who arrived to discuss medical test results was denied access to him. Family members argued that the action violated an existing court order that reportedly granted the former governor unrestricted access to his lawyers and physicians.
El-Rufai's second wife, Hasiat, had earlier claimed that even after medical examinations were conducted, he was not allowed to see the doctor again for explanation of the test results and further treatment recommendations.
The ICPC rejected those allegations, insisting that any delays involving visitors or medical personnel were linked to standard identification and security procedures rather than an attempt to deny treatment. The agency further stated that El-Rufai's family had been allowed multiple visits and had delivered food and other necessities during approved visitation hours.
El-Rufai was taken into ICPC custody in February 2026 as part of investigations into allegations relating to financial impropriety and abuse of office during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. The commission has maintained that his detention and subsequent court proceedings were conducted under valid judicial orders.
The former governor was later arraigned on multiple charges, all of which he denied. Court proceedings relating to the case remain ongoing. He was temporarily released on compassionate grounds in March following the death of his mother before returning to continue legal proceedings.
As of Friday evening, the ICPC had not publicly responded to Adekeye's latest allegation regarding El-Rufai's eye condition. The claim therefore remains an allegation from the former governor's aide, while the commission continues to maintain that appropriate medical access has been provided whenever required.
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