Muyiwa Adekeye, a spokesperson for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of blocking his principal from receiving medical attention despite repeated complaints about a deteriorating eye problem.
In a statement released on Friday, June 5, Adekeye said el-Rufai had reported experiencing swollen, reddish, and itchy eyes while in the custody of the anti-graft agency and had asked to see a physician. He added that relatives who visited the former governor had brought his condition to the attention of ICPC officials and requested medical assistance on his behalf.
Adekeye stated that two ICPC officers examined el-Rufai’s eyes, but no further medical action was taken. He said an official identified as Henry informed a family member that the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory did not wish to consult a doctor.
“Two ICPC officials checked and saw the condition of his eyes. This was expected step to prompt either a hospital check or that a doctor would be summoned to attend to him,” the statement reads.
“However, no medical attention was arranged. Rather one Henry, believed to have been seconded to the ICPC from another agency, falsely informed a family member that El Rufai did not wish to see a doctor. Henry was vigorously challenged by a family member for this false, insensitive and absurd claim.”
The former governor’s media aide said el-Rufai had been taken to an eye clinic on June 4, but his condition worsened significantly overnight. “The wives who visited him today found him in great discomfort and were alarmed by the condition of his eyes,” Adekeye said.
He noted that el-Rufai’s legal team had previously obtained a court order permitting him access to his personal doctors and medical treatment due to persistent eye-related health issues during his detention. “The ICPC persists in treating him as if he is without rights and is undeserving of a duty of care while in their custody,” he said.
Adekeye called on the commission to abide by the court ruling and ensure that el-Rufai receives proper medical care. “No agency of the government is allowed to be indifferent to the medical condition of a person in their custody,” he said. “The ICPC must respect human rights of persons in its custody, obey court orders and allow them access to the medical treatment that they require.” The ICPC had not issued a response to the allegations at the time of this report.