ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A Kaduna State High Court has turned down a fresh application for bail by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, after the National Hospital, Abuja, denied issuing the medical report presented to support his request.
Justice Darius Khobo dismissed the application on Thursday, ruling that the disputed medical report could not be relied upon after the hospital formally disowned it.
El-Rufai had asked the court to grant him bail on health grounds, claiming he was suffering from advanced metastatic prostate cancer that required specialised treatment allegedly unavailable in Nigeria.
However, during the hearing, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, tendered documentary evidence from the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Raji Mahmud, challenging the authenticity of the report.
According to the anti-graft agency, checks conducted on the hospital’s electronic medical records and patient database showed no evidence that El-Rufai had ever been registered, consulted, admitted or treated at the facility.
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The hospital further stated that the purported medical report was issued without the knowledge or authorisation of its management, effectively distancing itself from the document submitted before the court.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Khobo held that a document rejected by the institution purported to have issued it could not serve as a valid basis for granting the relief sought by the defence.
Despite refusing the bail request, the court directed the ICPC to allow El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal physicians while in custody. The judge also ordered that he be escorted to any specialised diagnostic or medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever the need arises during the trial.
El-Rufai is facing a nine-count charge bordering on the alleged conferment of benefits under false pretences and the dishonest disposal of loan funds. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The ruling represents the third failed attempt by the former governor to secure bail since his trial commenced. The court had earlier maintained that he should remain in custody in the interest of justice and to guarantee his availability throughout the proceedings.
Apart from the current case, the ICPC is prosecuting El-Rufai in a separate matter before the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
He remains in the custody of the anti-corruption agency pending the determination of both cases.