Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of denying the former governor access to medical care despite complaints about a worsening eye condition.
In a statement issued on Friday, Adekeye said El-Rufai complained of swollen, reddish, and itchy eyes while in ICPC custody and requested to see a doctor.
He added that family members who visited the former Kaduna governor alerted ICPC officials to his condition and sought medical attention on his behalf.
Adekeye said two ICPC officials examined El-Rufai’s eyes, but no further medical intervention was provided.
He said an official identified as Henry informed a family member of El-Rufai that the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) did not want to see a doctor.
“Two ICPC officials checked and saw the condition of his eyes. This was an expected step to prompt either a hospital visit or for a doctor to be summoned to attend to him,” the statement reads.
“However, no medical attention was arranged. Rather, one Henry, believed to have been seconded to the ICPC from another agency, falsely informed a family member that El-Rufai did not wish to see a doctor.
“Henry was vigorously challenged by a family member for this false, insensitive and absurd claim.”
The former governor’s aide said El-Rufai had previously been taken to an eye clinic on June 4, but his condition worsened overnight.
“The wives who visited him today found him in great discomfort and were alarmed by the condition of his eyes,” Adekeye said.
He added that El-Rufai’s lawyers had earlier obtained a court order allowing him access to his doctors and medical treatment because of persistent eye-related issues during his detention.
“The ICPC persists in treating him as if he is without rights and is undeserving of a duty of care while in their custody,” he said.
Adekeye urged the anti-graft agency to comply with the court order and ensure El-Rufai receives adequate medical attention.
“No agency of the government is allowed to be indifferent to the medical condition of a person in its custody,” he said.
“The ICPC must respect the human rights of persons in its custody, obey court orders, and allow them access to the medical treatment they require.”
The ICPC had not responded to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
