ADC Challenges ICPC Over El-Rufai’s Custody, Seeks Constitutional Compliance

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified its criticism of the treatment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, urging authorities to review the conditions attached to his bail and grant him unrestricted access to his family, lawyers and personal physician.

The party said the demands became necessary following what it alleged was a series of events at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Tuesday, where El-Rufai had been taken for medical attention.

According to the ADC, doctors at the hospital recommended that the former governor be admitted after assessing his condition. The party, however, claimed operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) insisted on taking him back into custody despite the medical advice.

It also alleged that El-Rufai’s personal physician was arrested after objecting to the decision, while his wife, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, was assaulted during the confrontation. The ICPC had not responded to the allegations as of the time this report was filed.

Against that backdrop, the opposition party is asking for what it considers the restoration of El-Rufai’s constitutional rights. Beyond access to his wife, children, legal team and doctors, it wants the bail conditions reviewed, arguing that they should only guarantee his appearance in court rather than become punitive before any conviction.

The ADC further called for an end to what it termed degrading detention conditions, insisting that law enforcement agencies comply with constitutional provisions and internationally recognised standards governing the treatment of detainees. It also demanded that the ICPC publicly explain the legal basis for every restriction imposed on the former governor.

Questioning the commission’s handling of the matter, the party asked, “On whose authority was access to his family denied? Why has access to his doctor been refused despite concerns about his health?”

The ADC maintained that the dispute now extends beyond El-Rufai’s case, arguing that it raises broader concerns about the protection of civil liberties and the independence of state institutions. It accused the Federal Government of allowing anti-corruption agencies to become tools for political intimidation, while calling for greater transparency in the handling of the case.