On Wednesday, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission announced that the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was given access to medical care while in detention by the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The ruling followed a compassionate plea by defense counsel during proceedings in the ongoing trial of the former governor over alleged money laundering and corruption-related offenses.
El-Rufai and a co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Wednesday’s proceedings, according to a statement by ICPC’s spokesman, John Odey, centred on El-Rufai’s application seeking variation of previously granted bail conditions.
“In the course of proceedings, the defense counsel also made a compassionate plea urging the court to direct the commission to allow the defendant access to medical treatment, specifically for dental and eye care, at designated facilities in Abuja,” the statement read.
The defence counsel specifically requested permission for treatment at Mile Dental Clinic and Skipper Eye-Q Hospital in Abuja.
Ruling on the application, Justice Aikawa granted the request and directed the ICPC to convey El-Rufai under strict supervision to the medical facilities whenever necessary and return him to custody immediately after treatment.
The court stressed that all movements relating to the medical visits must remain under the strict supervision of the commission.
Odey said the commission would fully comply with the court’s orders while ensuring lawful custody of the defendant pending fulfilment of his bail conditions.
Earlier, the court had admitted El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N200million with two sureties in like sum, while the administrative bail earlier granted to the second defendant was adopted by the court.
The matter was adjourned to May 7, 2026, for ruling on the application seeking variation of the bail conditions.
