Court grants El-Rufai access to dental, eye treatment in custody

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Wednesday said the Federal High Court in Kaduna has granted former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, access to medical treatment while in custody.

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The ruling followed a compassionate plea by defence counsel during proceedings in the ongoing trial of the former governor over alleged money laundering and corruption-related offences.

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El-Rufai and a co-defendant, Joel Adoga, are facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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According to a Wednesday statement by the ICPC spokesman, John Odey, the proceedings centred on El-Rufai’s application seeking variation of previously granted bail conditions.

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“In the course of proceedings, the defence counsel also made a compassionate plea urging the court to direct the Commission to allow the defendant access to medical treatment, specifically for dental and eye care, at designated facilities in Abuja,” the statement partly read.

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The defence counsel specifically requested permission for treatment at Mile Dental Clinic and Skipper Eye-Q Hospital in Abuja.

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Ruling on the application, Justice Aikawa granted the request and directed the ICPC to convey El-Rufai under strict supervision to the medical facilities whenever necessary and return him to custody immediately after treatment.

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The court stressed that all movements relating to the medical visits must remain under the strict supervision of the commission.

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Odey said the commission would fully comply with the court’s orders while ensuring lawful custody of the defendant pending fulfilment of his bail conditions.

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Earlier, the court had admitted El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N200m with two sureties in like sum, while the administrative bail earlier granted to the second defendant was adopted by the court.

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The matter was adjourned to May 7, 2026, for ruling on the application seeking variation of the bail conditions.

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