The Kaduna State High Court has refused a fresh application for bail filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the ongoing corruption case instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Justice D. H. Khobo, in a ruling delivered on June 29, dismissed the former governor’s third bail application, which was predicated on health grounds.
El-Rufai had urged the court to grant him bail, relying on a medical report said to have been issued by the National Hospital, Abuja.
The document claimed he was suffering from advanced metastatic prostate cancer and required specialised treatment allegedly unavailable in Nigeria.
However, proceedings took a different turn after the National Hospital denied issuing the report.
The hospital informed the court that it had no record indicating that the former governor was ever treated at the facility and stated that the document was neither authorised nor issued with the knowledge of its management.
Relying on the hospital’s position, Justice Khobo held that the authenticity of the medical report had been seriously undermined, ruling that a document disowned by the institution whose letterhead it bore could not be accepted as credible evidence to justify the grant of bail.
The court consequently ruled that there was no verified medical evidence warranting the exceptional relief sought by the defendant.
Despite rejecting the application, the judge directed the ICPC to continue granting El-Rufai unrestricted access to his personal doctors and ensure he is escorted to any specialised diagnostic or medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever the need arises during the trial.
The anti-graft agency said it would fully comply with the court’s directive, noting that the order was consistent with its existing practice.
The commission also described the ruling as a reaffirmation that applications for bail on medical grounds must be supported by credible, verifiable evidence and determined strictly in accordance with the law.