- As former governor seeks eye, dental care treatment
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted permission to the immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to receive dental and eye treatment in Abuja, under the strict supervision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The presiding judge, Justice R. M. Aikawa ordered that while still in custody, El-Rufai should be transported to medical facilities of his choice and immediately returned to detention afterwards.
A statement issued on Wednesday by J. Okor Odey, Head of Media and Public Communications at ICPC, said the approval followed an application by the defence counsel
According to Odey, the former Governor’s legal team had requested that the court should direct the Commission to allow him access to medical care, particularly for dental and eye treatment.
The statement said, “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 further read: “The Court emphasised that all such movements shall remain under the strict supervision of ICPC.”
The anti-graft agency had arraigned El-Rufai and one Joel Adoga on March 24 before the Federal High Court on charges of alleged fraud and money laundering. Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and the Court adjourned the bail hearing to March 31.
However, at a subsequent sitting in April, the Court granted el-Rufai bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties, while also confirming the administrative bail earlier granted to Adoga.
Odey’s statement also explained that “Wednesday’s proceedings came up for the hearing of El-Rufai’s motion seeking variation of the bail conditions earlier granted by the Court.
“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.”
Furthermore, Odey said after hearing arguments from both sides, the Court adjourned the matter to Thursday, May 7 for a ruling.
