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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has explained why leaders of the African Democratic Congress were denied access to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, currently in its custody, stating that only individuals recognised by a subsisting court order are permitted to see him.
Top officials of the ADC, including Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi and Salihu Lukman, were reportedly turned back on Friday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja when they attempted to visit the detained former governor.
Reacting, the ICPC spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, said the denial was in strict compliance with a court directive guiding access to the defendant.
He said the order expressly limits visitation to family members, legal representatives and medical personnel.
“The court order for access to the defendant in our custody is for family members, lawyers and doctors,” Odey said, adding that political associates and party officials were not captured in the directive.
The commission also queried the legal standing of the ADC in the matter, noting that the party had no formal role in the custody arrangement of the former governor.
The development comes amid heightened political tension surrounding El-Rufai’s detention and ongoing investigation by the anti-graft agency.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier granted bail to El-Rufai in the sum of N100m with one surety in like sum.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the ruling, ordered that the surety must be a resident of Maitama or Asokoro in the Federal Capital Territory and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court.
The court further ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months, alongside a bank verification letter.
In addition, El-Rufai was directed to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
However, the former governor’s detention has continued to generate controversy, with his family alleging rights violations by the commission.
His wife, Aichatou El-Rufai, accused ICPC operatives of denying her husband access to his doctor despite a court order permitting medical visitation.
She claimed that the doctor, who visited the commission to review medical tests conducted on the former governor, was turned back for failing to present written approval from the ICPC chairman.
Aichatou also alleged that she was prevented from delivering dinner to her husband at the facility, describing the actions as a violation of his fundamental rights.
The ICPC has yet to respond to the specific allegations regarding denial of medical access and family visitation as of the time of filing this report.
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