The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has told the Kaduna State High Court that the National Hospital, Abuja, officially denied issuing the medical report relied upon by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his latest application for bail on medical grounds.
According to the ICPC, the medical report, which claimed El-Rufai was suffering from advanced metastatic prostate cancer requiring specialised treatment unavailable in Nigeria, was formally disowned by the management of the National Hospital. The anti-corruption agency presented a letter from the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Muhammad Raji Mahmud, stating that a comprehensive search of the hospital’s records found no evidence that El-Rufai had ever been treated at the facility or that the report originated from the hospital.
The hospital further stated that it had no patient file, hospital number, billing record, consultation history, or any official documentation linking El-Rufai to the institution. It also maintained that the medical report was issued without the knowledge or authorisation of the hospital’s management.
Justice D. H. Khobo held that since the National Hospital had disowned the document, the report could no longer be regarded as credible evidence to support the request for bail on health grounds. Consequently, the court dismissed El-Rufai’s application, ruling that no exceptional circumstances had been established to justify granting bail.
Despite refusing the application, the court directed the ICPC to continue granting El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal doctors and to escort him to any specialised medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever necessary during the trial.
The ruling represents another setback for the former governor, who remains in ICPC custody as he faces trial over allegations of abuse of office and related offences, all of which he has denied.
