The federal high court in Kaduna has granted Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of the state, permission to seek medical treatment, specifically dental and eye care, at hospitals in Abuja.
J. Okor Odey, ICPC’s head of media and public communications, said in a statement that the court approved the request on Wednesday.
Odey said el-Rufai’s defence counsel asked the court to order the commission to allow him access to medical treatment.
“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 reads.
“The court emphasized that all such movements shall remain under the strict supervision of ICPC.”
On March 24, el-Rufai and Joel Adoga were arraigned by the ICPC before the federal high court on charges bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, while the court adjourned the bail hearing to March 31.
Odey said at the last sitting in April, the court granted el-Rufai bail of N200 million with two sureties, while it also confirmed the administrative bail earlier given to Adoga.
“Wednesday’s proceedings came up for the hearing of El-Rufai’s motion seeking variation of the bail conditions earlier granted by the court,” the ICPC spokesperson said.
“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 noted that following arguments from both sides, the court adjourned the matter to May 7 for a ruling.