El-Rufai's doctor arrested for turning hospital visit into political meeting

The ICPC has arrested Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, for allegedly abusing privilege and violating a court order. According to a statement by ICPC spokesperson John Odey, Abubakar was arrested on Tuesday after a court-approved medical visit to the National Hospital in Abuja was turned into a political meeting.

The Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7, and 8 for accelerated hearing of criminal charges against El-Rufai. On the first day, El-Rufai refused to appear in court, insisting he needed to consult his personal doctor. The court allowed the visit under security arrangements, but instead of medical consultation, El-Rufai's associate Isa Ashiri Kudan posted photographs of the meeting on Facebook at about 2 pm yesterday.

What is most troubling is that El-Rufai's wife Asia, who is also one of his legal counsel, reportedly requested the medical consultation even though the prison doctor said El-Rufai had no immediate medical complaints. This is a clear abuse of the court's goodwill. The judiciary must be respected. If El-Rufai and his team think they can manipulate the system with these tactics, they are mistaken. What do you think the court should do about this blatant disregard for its orders?