The family of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of violating his constitutional rights by allegedly denying him access to medical care and restricting food deliveries while in custody.
In a statement released on Saturday, Mohammed Bello described the actions of the anti-graft agency as a serious attack on his father’s basic rights.
Family Raises Alarm Over Medical Access
According to Bello, El-Rufai’s personal doctor visited the ICPC office on Friday to discuss the outcome of medical tests recently conducted on the former governor.
“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 read.
“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.”
Bello argued that the decision directly violated an existing court order granting El-Rufai unrestricted access to his doctors.
Wife Allegedly Denied Access To Deliver Food
The family also alleged that El-Rufai’s second wife, Assab Aichatou Djibril, was prevented from delivering his dinner at the detention facility.
According to Bello, ICPC operatives reportedly informed her that food deliveries were not allowed after 6:30pm.
“This arbitrary rule is no less offensive than blocking his right to medical care,” he stated.
He described the development as an assault on the rule of law and a violation of the former governor’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 added.
El-Rufai’s Wife Speaks Out
In a separate post shared on X, Assab Aichatou Djibril also accused the agency of ignoring a court directive.
“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s doctor was at the ICPC today, to follow up on medical tests recently taken by his patient,” she wrote.
“The doctor was prevented from seeing him by operatives who insisted that the doctor must present written approval by their chairman. This is a brazen violation of an explicit court order.”
She added that she was also denied access when she attempted to deliver dinner to her husband later that evening.
Background To The Case
El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 19 over allegations of financial impropriety during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted the former governor over alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, while calling for investigations by anti-graft agencies.
On April 13, 2026, the ICPC arraigned him before the Kaduna High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
WATCH: Hadiza El-Rufai Alleges ICPC Blocked Her From Taking Dinner to Her Husband, Nasir El-Rufai, In Custody 😳 pic.twitter.com/1jvYJa9R64
— Mama Ju (@julietemmanuel0) May 16, 2026