Lawyers for Former Kaduna Governor El-Rufai React to Anti-Corruption Agency

Lawyers for Nigeria's former Kaduna Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai have accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of making unjust and misleading statements regarding their client. The lawyers argue that the statement released by the ICPC on 7 Temmuz, claiming that El-Rufai violated court orders, does not reflect the truth. The written statement emphasizes that the former governor's absence from court was due to severe health problems, not a deliberate attempt to evade justice. The defense team stated that the agency is trying to mislead the public by distorting the facts. This situation once again highlights the scale of the legal battles between high-level politicians and anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.

According to a statement by El-Rufai's advisor Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor's absence from the 6 Temmuz hearing was fundamentally due to health issues that were previously known and of which the ICPC was aware. The lawyers pointed out that, contrary to the ICPC's claims, El-Rufai did not refuse to appear in court voluntarily; rather, he was unable to leave town due to a mandatory hospital visit. It was stated that his family obtained official permission from the agency for El-Rufai to visit the National Hospital in Abuja on 7 Temmuz, and that this visit was planned prior to the hearing. Therefore, it is argued that he was subjected to unjust criticism, as he could not physically be expected to attend the court in Kaduna. All these details aim to prove that the process was due to procedure and health reasons, rather than a legal obstruction.

In the said statement, the ICPC's attitude towards El-Rufai's doctor was also heavily criticized. It was alleged that Professor Bello Abubakar, the former governor's doctor, was allowed to go to the ICPC detention center to check on his patient's health condition but was kept waiting there for more than two hours. The lawyers strongly condemned the situation, describing the last-minute prevention of the doctor from meeting with El-Rufai as unacceptable. Furthermore, the doctor's arrest and accusation of 'making false statements' were interpreted as intimidation lacking any legal basis. El-Rufai's legal representatives emphasized that the ICPC must immediately stop such pressure and obstruction attempts.

Touching upon the details of the court proceedings, the statement noted that during the 6 Temmuz hearing, the prosecution's request to continue the case in El-Rufai's absence was rejected by the lawyers. El-Rufai's defense team demanded that the legal process be properly executed, arguing that witnesses must be questioned under oath and that the prosecution's verbal statements alone cannot be relied upon. Following this, the court announced that the case was adjourned to 15 Temmuz, and that on this date, the requests for the judge's withdrawal and the transfer of the case to another court would be discussed. Additionally, it was recalled that a court ruling issued in Nisan preserved El-Rufai's right to access healthcare services and that no restrictions were imposed on his visitors at the hospital. It was claimed that the ICPC tried to create a restriction by advancing the visiting time to the crowded morning hours of the hospital.

In conclusion, El-Rufai's lawyers threatened the ICPC with disregarding the court order, arguing that portraying the hospital visit as a political gathering is entirely baseless. It was emphasized that their client's rights to health, and to meet with family and lawyers, are not privileges, but universal rights recognized within the framework of Nigerian laws and the international Nelson Mandela Rules. It was stated that this entire process they have experienced is considered an effort to restrict the former governor's rights to a fair trial and access to fundamental human rights. The lawyers demanded that the ICPC withdraw all baseless accusations and act within legal limits, drawing attention to potential legal repercussions.