MOHAMMED Bello, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has accused operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of denying his father access to medical care and family support while in detention.
The allegation was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by Mohammed Bello on Saturday, where he described the actions of the anti-graft agency as a “serious attack” on his father’s fundamental rights.
El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 19 over allegations of financial impropriety linked to his tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The former governor had earlier been granted temporary leave from custody to attend his mother’s funeral.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted el-Rufai over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, while also calling on anti-corruption agencies to investigate him.
Subsequently, on April 13, 2026, the ICPC arraigned the former governor before a Kaduna High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
Reacting to recent developments at the detention facility, Mohammed Bello alleged that the ICPC violated a court order by preventing his father’s personal doctor from seeing him.
“Our father, Mallam Nasir @elrufai, is still being held by the ICPC. Today, 15 May 2026, we witnessed two distinct yet equally serious attacks on his basic rights,” the statement read.
“First, his personal doctor visited the ICPC at about 3pm to discuss the results of medical tests recently conducted on our father.
“Officials at the agency blocked the doctor from seeing him, claiming that written permission from the ICPC chairman was required.”
According to Mohammed Bello, the action directly contradicted an existing court order that granted el-Rufai unrestricted access to his medical team.
He further alleged that the former governor’s second wife, Aichatou, was also prevented from seeing him after arriving at the facility with his evening meal.
“ICPC personnel turned her away, saying they had orders not to permit food deliveries after 6:30pm,” he said.
“This arbitrary rule is no less offensive than blocking his right to medical care.”
The former governor’s son described the alleged actions of the commission as an assault on the rule of law and a violation of his father’s constitutional and human rights.
“No lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on an arbitrary curfew fixed by the ICPC. Shame on them as an institution,” he stated.
Mohammed Bello added that the family would no longer tolerate what he described as intimidation disguised as official procedure.
He said the family was demanding full respect for all constitutional rights guaranteed to the former governor while in detention.
“We will no longer accept this pattern of intimidation dressed up as protocol,” he added.