Court Throws Out El-Rufai’s Bail Bid Following Medical Report Controversy

The Kaduna State High Court has struck out another bail application by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the criminal charge against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

On 29 June 2026, Justice D. H. Khobo delivered judgment dismissing El-Rufai’s third application for bail on medical grounds.

One of the matters before the court was a medical report submitted by the former governor in support of his application.

Exhibit “A,” the document, was said to have been issued by the National Hospital, Abuja and stated that El-Rufai had been diagnosed with advanced metastatic prostate cancer which needed specialised treatment allegedly not available in Nigeria.

But at the trial, the National Hospital denied issuing the report and told the court that there were no records to show that the defendant had been treated there.

The hospital also said the medical report was prepared without the knowledge or approval of its management.

The court said that the authenticity and credibility of the document had been seriously compromised and that a report disowned by the institution on whose letterhead it was written could not be relied upon to justify the exceptional relief sought.

Justice Khobo found the medical evidence to be unreliable and held that there was no verified fact to grant bail on health grounds.

The court, in dismissing the application, directed the ICPC to continue to grant the former governor unrestricted access to his personal medical doctors and ensure that he is escorted to any specialised diagnostic or medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever the need arises while the trial continues.

The directive was consistent with the commission’s existing practice and it reiterated its commitment to full compliance with the court’s order, the commission said.

The ICPC said in reaction to the judgment that the ruling reinforces the principle that applications for bail on medical grounds must be supported by credible and verifiable evidence and decided strictly in accordance with the law.