By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, yesterday traded accusations over the hospital visit and detention conditions of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

While the ADC accused the anti-graft agency of denying El-Rufai adequate medical care and violating his rights in detention, the ICPC alleged that the former governor abused a court-approved medical visit and breached the conditions under which it was granted.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, where doctors recommended that he be admitted because of his deteriorating health.

According to the party, ICPC officials rejected the recommendation and insisted on returning him to custody.

The ADC further claimed that protests by El-Rufai’s wife and personal physician over the decision led to a confrontation during which his wife was assaulted and the doctor arrested.

“Against the hospital’s advice that he would require hospitalisation in view of his failing health, officials of the ICPC insisted on returning him into custody. Protests by his personal physician and his wife led to scuffles during which his wife was assaulted and the doctor subsequently arrested,” Abdullahi alleged.

The opposition party described the development as an assault on constitutional rights, due process and human dignity, alleging that El-Rufai had also been denied access to his family and personal physician despite a court order permitting such access.

It accused President Bola Tinubu of bearing responsibility for El-Rufai’s continued detention, describing the former governor as a political prisoner.

“The world should know today that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is holding a political prisoner in Nigeria by the name of Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai,” Abdullahi said.

However, the ICPC rejected the allegations and accused El-Rufai of violating the purpose of a court-approved medical visit.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, John Odey, the Commission said the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8 for accelerated hearing of criminal charges against El-Rufai, but proceedings could not commence after he allegedly declined to leave custody for court, insisting on consulting his personal physician.

The Commission said no prior request had been made for the consultation and that when questioned by its medical doctor, El-Rufai reportedly stated that he had no immediate medical complaints but wanted to see his physician at the request of his wife, Asia El-Rufai, who is also one of his counsel.

According to the ICPC, the court subsequently adjourned proceedings until July 15 to hear El-Rufai’s application seeking the recusal of the trial judge and to await a directive from the Kaduna State Chief Judge on a pending request for transfer of the case.

The anti-graft agency said it nevertheless facilitated the hospital visit in compliance with the court’s directives and its obligation to ensure the welfare of persons in custody.

The Commission said its medical and security personnel accompanied El-Rufai to the private wing of the National Hospital and remained outside the consultation room while he was examined by an oncologist.

The ICPC said concerns arose after photographs surfaced on Facebook showing El-Rufai with his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, and three other individuals during the hospital visit.

The photographs were reportedly posted by El-Rufai’s political associate, Isa Kudan, who stated that they had just concluded a meeting with the former governor.

“The images and post by Isa Kudan indicated that the arranged medical visit was utilised for activities outside the scope contemplated by the court and the ICPC. This is a clear violation of the court order,” the Commission stated.

The ICPC said the development led to the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar for allegedly making false statements and disclosed that it would bring the matter to the attention of the court.

The National Secretary of the Seyi Makinde-backed and Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Taofeek Arapaja, has dumped the party.

Following his resignation from the party, Arapaja met with the Oyo State All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli ahead of his defection to the APC.

Arapaja had reportedly met with President Bola Tinubu as consultations over his proposed defection into the APC.

He is a former deputy governor of Oyo State and National Deputy Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

At the time of filing this report, Governor Makinde has not made any comment on the development.

The Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Turaki led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked reports alleging that some of its candidates were planning legal action against the party leadership under the chairmanship of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN. describing the claim as false.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong.

In addition to the statement, the party also announced that its suit seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,

to recognise the party’s Interim National Working Committee, NWC, has been adjourned for judgment.

The PDP said the matter came up for hearing earlier in the day, with counsel to all parties adopting their respective processes before the court.

The court subsequently adjourned the case for judgment on a date yet to be communicated.

The statement reads in full “Earlier today, the case instituted by the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, @OfficialPDPNig seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Interim National Working Committee constituted by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party, came up for hearing before the court.

“Following the adoption of their respective processes by counsel to all the parties, the matter was adjourned for judgment on a date to be communicated by the court.

“In a related development, we have become aware of rumours alleging that some candidates of our Party are threatening to institute legal action against the leadership of the Party under the chairmanship of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN.

“These rumours are entirely false and are nothing more than the product of mischief. There has not been a single complaint, let alone any threat of legal action, by any of our candidates. On the contrary, all the Party’s candidates have remained in constant communication with the leadership and are regularly briefed on ongoing developments.

“We therefore urge the public, particularly media organisations and journalists, to disregard these false reports and rely only on information communicated through the official channels of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Such rumours are being propagated by ill-wishers and PDP pretenders, who are APC apologists, in a desperate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.”