ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, permission to undergo dental and eye treatment in Abuja under the supervision of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
The approval followed an application by the defence, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey.
Odey said El-Rufai’s legal team had approached the court seeking an order compelling the commission to allow him access to medical care, specifically for dental and eye-related issues.
“Ruling on this application, the court granted the request and directed the ICPC to convey Mallam El-Rufai, under strict supervision, to medical facilities of his choice, including Mile Dental Clinic and Skipper Eye-Q Hospital, Abuja, whenever the need arises, and to return him to custody immediately after such treatment,” the statement read.
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“The court emphasised that all such movements shall remain under the strict supervision of ICPC.”
El-Rufai and a co-defendant, Joel Adoga, were earlier arraigned on March 24 by the ICPC on charges bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering. Both men pleaded not guilty, prompting the court to adjourn proceedings for bail consideration.
At a subsequent hearing in April, the court granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties, while also affirming the administrative bail earlier granted to Adoga.
Wednesday’s proceedings centred on El-Rufai’s motion seeking a variation of the bail conditions earlier imposed by the court.
“At the proceedings, Dr. Agada Akogwu appeared for the prosecution, while Oluwole Olaniyan SAN led a team of defence counsel that adopted the motion for variation of bail conditions, while prosecution counsel adopted a counter-affidavit in opposition to the application,” Odey said.
Following arguments from both sides, the court adjourned the matter to May 7 for further ruling, even as it granted the interim relief allowing supervised medical access.
The decision marks a slight easing of El-Rufai’s bail conditions, while maintaining strict oversight by the anti-graft agency.