El-Rufai’s Family Counters ICPC Over Wiretapping Allegations

The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has rejected claims by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that wiretapping devices and classified documents were recovered from his Abuja residence.

In a statement issued by his son, Muhammed Bello el-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, the family dismissed the allegations as false and misleading. They accused the anti-graft agency of attempting to tarnish the former governor’s image through what they described as a “media trial.”

El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza Isma, also took to social media platform X to deny the claims, stating that she was present during the search and that no such equipment was found. She described the allegations as untrue and questioned the credibility of the commission.

The ICPC, however, filed a counter-affidavit explaining the circumstances surrounding el-Rufai’s arrest and detention. The agency earlier claimed that suspected surveillance equipment capable of intercepting confidential communications, along with sensitive documents, were recovered during a raid on the former governor’s residence.

Responding to the commission’s claims, the family maintained that el-Rufai was within his constitutional rights to remain silent and decline to answer questions during the investigation until he is formally charged in court. They argued that the right to silence is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and should not be interpreted as non-cooperation or an admission of guilt.

According to the statement, el-Rufai has consistently challenged the commission to formally charge him in court if there is evidence against him, noting that investigations into his tenure have lasted more than two years.

Meanwhile, the ICPC informed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja that el-Rufai’s detention was necessary to conclude investigations into alleged acts of corruption during his time in office from 2015 to 2023.

The former governor has filed a suit before the court, claiming that his arrest and detention violated his fundamental human rights. He is seeking a declaration that the actions of the anti-corruption agency were unlawful and is demanding N1 billion in damages.

In court documents, el-Rufai acknowledged his identity and public service record but declined to respond to specific allegations, citing his constitutional right to remain silent. He described the investigation as politically motivated and said he would address the allegations through legal proceedings.

The ICPC stated that its investigation followed a petition alleging financial misconduct during el-Rufai’s administration, including issues related to government loans, procurement processes, transfers from state accounts, and payments to certain companies and individuals. The commission said it began preliminary investigations, obtained relevant documents from financial institutions and government bodies, and issued an invitation letter dated February 9.

According to the agency, the letter was served on February 12 after el-Rufai returned to Nigeria, as he was reportedly outside the country at the time it was first issued.

The unfolding legal battle highlights growing tensions between political figures and anti-corruption agencies, as both sides continue to defend their positions in court and in the public sphere.