By Editor
A standoff between the family of former Kaduna State governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, escalated on May 15, 2026, over allegations of denied medical access and blocked food deliveries.
In a press statement, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency and chairman of the Committee on Banking Regulations, accused the agency of violating his father’s constitutional rights while in custody.
According to the statement, El-Rufai’s personal doctor arrived at the ICPC office around 3pm to discuss recent medical test results but was prevented from seeing him.
Officials reportedly told the doctor that written permission from the ICPC Chairman was required, a condition the family says contradicts a court order granting unrestricted access to doctors.
Hours later, El-Rufai’s wife, Aishatu, was turned away when she attempted to deliver his evening meal at about 7pm.
The family said ICPC personnel cited an internal rule barring food deliveries after 6:30pm, despite the fact that such deliveries had been made at that time in the past.
Mohammed Bello El-Rufai described the incidents as “two distinct yet equally serious attacks on his basic rights,” calling them an outright assault on the rule of law.
He argued that no lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on an arbitrary curfew set by the agency.
The lawmaker stated that the actions amounted to intimidation disguised as protocol and demanded that all of El-Rufai’s constitutional rights be respected immediately.
He added that the family would no longer accept what he called a pattern of harassment and urged the ICPC to abide by the laws it claims to enforce.
The statement confirmed that as of press time, El-Rufai had still not received his meal, raising concerns about his welfare in detention.
The incident has sparked public debate over the treatment of high-profile detainees and the limits of agency discretion in custody matters.
Legal experts note that court orders on medical access are binding and that deviations without judicial review could expose the agency to contempt proceedings.
The ICPC had not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
Supporters of El-Rufai described the situation as a “show of shame” and called for immediate intervention by the courts and human rights bodies.
The episode adds to the ongoing tension between El-Rufai and federal anti-graft agencies, with his family warning that continued disregard for court directives would further erode public confidence in the justice process.
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