Nigeria: El-Rufai's Doctor Denies Forgery Claims

What the report says

Premium Times, distributed by AllAfrica, reported on 29 July 2026 that Bello Abubakar, a Chief Consultant Clinical/Radiation Oncologist at the National Hospital in Abuja, has denied key allegations in a forgery case linked to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s bail bid. In a voluntary statement to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), made with his lawyer present, Abubakar acknowledged preparing a medical report but said he did not know Mohammed Bala Aliyu, the person accused of using it to swear an affidavit in El-Rufai’s favour.

The ICPC has filed a four-count charge accusing Abubakar of issuing a false medical report to mislead a public officer and aid El-Rufai’s bail application in a Kaduna State High Court case. The charge sheet says the report, dated 10 June 2026 and titled as an expert opinion for urgent medical intervention, was allegedly false and later used in court filings. Abubakar denied authorising anyone to depose an affidavit based on the report and said he had never dealt with the named individual.

Abubakar also described his past medical contact with El-Rufai, saying the former governor had been registered at the National Hospital years earlier and that recent consultations occurred while El-Rufai was in ICPC detention and later at the hospital. He declined to disclose El-Rufai’s diagnosis, citing medical ethics and lack of authorisation.

Premium Times reported that court filings indicate National Hospital officials are expected to testify that the report was not authorised and did not follow due process. The ICPC has also petitioned the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for possible professional action. El-Rufai, who faces separate corruption-related prosecutions, has pleaded not guilty.