A spokesperson for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of failing to provide medical attention despite repeated complaints about a worsening eye condition while he was in custody.
In a statement issued on Friday, Muyiwa Adekeye alleged that El-Rufai had reported suffering from swollen, red and itchy eyes and requested access to a doctor, but no medical treatment was arranged by the anti-corruption agency.
According to Adekeye, family members who visited the former governor also raised concerns about his condition with ICPC officials and requested that he receive medical care.
He claimed that two officials from the commission examined El-Rufai’s eyes but did not facilitate further medical assessment or treatment.
“Two ICPC officials checked and saw the condition of his eyes. This was expected to prompt either a hospital check or that a doctor would be summoned to attend to him,” Adekeye said.
“However, no medical attention was arranged.”
The spokesperson further alleged that an official identified as Henry, whom he said was believed to have been seconded from another agency, informed a family member that El-Rufai did not want to see a doctor.
Adekeye described the claim as false and said it was challenged by members of the former governor’s family.
According to the statement, El-Rufai had previously been taken to an eye clinic on June 4, but his condition reportedly deteriorated significantly afterward.
“The wives who visited him today found him in great discomfort and were alarmed by the condition of his eyes,” Adekeye stated.
He also disclosed that El-Rufai’s legal team had earlier secured a court order allowing him access to his personal doctors and medical treatment because of ongoing eye-related health concerns.
Adekeye accused the ICPC of failing to comply with that order and urged the agency to ensure that the former governor 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 the human rights of persons in its custody, obey court orders and allow them access to the medical treatment that they require.”
As of the time of reporting, the ICPC had not publicly responded to the allegations made by El-Rufai’s aide.