Nasir El-Rufai's family has leveled serious accusations against the ICPC. They say the anti-graft agency is denying the former Kaduna governor medical care and restricting food while he remains in custody.
A statement from the family on Thursday detailed the alleged violations. El-Rufai has a valid court order permitting unrestricted access to his personal physicians, they noted.
His doctor arrived at ICPC headquarters around 3 p.m. on May 15 to discuss recent medical test results. Agency officials refused to allow the visit, demanding written clearance from the ICPC chairman instead.
The family called this a direct breach of the court order. They described it as an assault on his constitutional protections.
Around 7 p.m. that same evening, El-Rufai's wife Aichatou showed up with his dinner. ICPC staff turned her away at the gate.
Officials cited a 6:30 p.m. cutoff for food deliveries as an internal rule. The family rejected this explanation entirely.
"No lawful detention justifies denying medical access or refusing basic family care based on arbitrary rules," the statement argued. They condemned what they called "intimidation dressed up as protocol."
The family demanded full respect for El-Rufai's constitutional rights going forward. They vowed to challenge the pattern of restrictions.
In their words: "We will no longer accept this pattern of intimidation dressed up as protocol. The ICPC must abide by the very laws it claims to enforce."
Aichatou had earlier posted a video from ICPC headquarters describing her experience there. She documented the difficulties she faced trying to care for her husband.
The accusations emerged just hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called for El-Rufai's immediate release. Atiku's intervention added political pressure to an already contentious situation.
El-Rufai's legal team continues working to secure his access to proper meals. They're also fighting to restore his doctor's visits without ICPC interference.
