Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has rejected allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that his principal violated a court order during a visit to the National Hospital, Abuja.

In a statement on Thursday, Adekeye described the ICPC’s claim that the medical visit was turned into a political meeting as inaccurate, insisting that the commission’s account did not reflect what occurred.

The controversy followed the arrest of Prof. Bello Abubakar, el-Rufai’s personal physician, on Tuesday over allegations of making false statements concerning the former governor’s hospital visit.

ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, had alleged that el-Rufai and his doctor abused privileges granted under a court-approved medical consultation. The commission said photographs shared by Isa Ashiru Kudan, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, suggested that the visit became a political gathering.

El-Rufai is currently facing separate criminal charges before the Kaduna State High Court and the Federal High Court in Kaduna. While his bail applications at the state high court have been dismissed, the court directed the ICPC to allow him access to personal physicians and specialised medical facilities of his choice within Nigeria. The Federal High Court had granted him bail of N200 million, but he is yet to meet the conditions.

Responding to the allegations, Adekeye said the ICPC was aware of el-Rufai’s request to see his physician before July 6, rejecting claims that there was no immediate medical concern before the July 7 appointment.

He said the family had requested a 5 p.m. consultation to avoid congestion at the hospital but alleged that the ICPC changed the appointment time to 10 a.m.

According to Adekeye, after a private consultation with Prof. Abubakar, an oncologist, el-Rufai waited in a public area of the hospital’s private wing for about an hour while awaiting a written medical report requested by the ICPC.

He said some individuals who became aware of the former governor’s presence requested to see him, including Isa Ashiru, while others approached him for greetings.

“The ICPC’s narrative that this visit was converted into a political meeting takes no account of its own conduct.

“It was the commission that moved the appointment from a quiet 5:00 p.m. slot to a high-traffic 10:00 a.m. slot, without notice to the family until that morning, and it was the commission’s own personnel who were stationed at the scene throughout,” he said.

Adekeye also challenged the ICPC to identify the specific court order allegedly violated, arguing that the only relevant order, issued by Justice Aikawa on April 1, 2026, simply granted el-Rufai access to medical care while in custody.

“That order directs that Malam El-Rufai be afforded access to medical care in custody.

“It does not regulate, restrict or impose conditions on who may see or be seen by him while that access is being exercised,” he said.

He further called for the immediate and unconditional release of Prof. Abubakar, pending clarification of the allegations against him.