ADC Alleges El-Rufai Was Denied Medical Care, Doctor Arrested; Accuses Tinubu Government of Political Persecution

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Federal Government and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of denying former Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai, access to medical treatment, alleging that his personal physician was arrested and his wife assaulted during an incident at the National Hospital, Abuja.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the alleged actions as an abuse of constitutional rights and warned that Nigeria was “sliding into tyranny” under President Bola Tinubu.

According to the ADC, El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital for medical attention, where doctors reportedly recommended that he be admitted due to his deteriorating health. However, the party alleged that ICPC officials insisted on returning him to custody despite the medical advice.

The party further claimed that protests by El-Rufai’s wife and personal physician resulted in a scuffle during which his wife was allegedly assaulted while the doctor was arrested.

“The actions of the ICPC and the Tinubu government have gone beyond the realm of law enforcement,” the ADC said, accusing the administration of using anti-corruption agencies as tools for political persecution.

The party alleged that El-Rufai was being held as a “political prisoner” and argued that denying him access to medical care, family members and his legal team violated constitutional provisions and court orders granting him unrestricted access to his lawyers, physician and relatives.

It warned that the development raises broader concerns about the state of democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.

The ADC also called on the ICPC to explain the legal basis for the alleged restrictions placed on El-Rufai, including why access to his family and doctor was reportedly denied and the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault on his wife and arrest of his physician.

The party urged President Tinubu to take responsibility for the actions of federal agencies, arguing that the President could not distance himself from their conduct.

Among its demands, the ADC called for immediate and unrestricted access for El-Rufai to his family, legal team and personal doctors, a review of his bail conditions, improved conditions of detention, full compliance with constitutional safeguards governing detainees, transparency from the ICPC, and an end to what it described as the use of state institutions for political intimidation.

As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC and the Presidency had not issued official responses to the allegations contained in the ADC statement.