By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
The family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of conducting what it described as a “malicious smear campaign” in connection with an investigation over alleged surveillance equipment.
In a statement signed by his son, Mohammed Bello el-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, the family denied claims that the former governor failed to cooperate with investigators.
“The ICPC has ludicrously attempted to weaponise the silence of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai against him, claiming he ‘refused to cooperate’. We must educate the Commission on the most basic tenet of Nigerian jurisprudence.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent. This is not an act of non-cooperation; it is a fundamental human right,” the statement partly read.
The family also dismissed reports that sophisticated surveillance or espionage devices were recovered from a property linked to El-Rufai, insisting that only “old discarded personal mobile phones, flash drives, and laptops” were taken.
They further questioned the legality of the search, alleging that the warrant authorising the operation was improperly obtained and issued without jurisdiction.
According to the family, their lawyers have already filed a challenge to the warrant’s validity and the admissibility of any items seized during the search.
“The entire foundation of this investigation is rotten. The search that purportedly uncovered these phantom items was conducted under a legally defective warrant.
“We have credible evidence that the warrant was a forgery, fraudulently procured and presented by a Magistrate who was, bizarrely, purporting to sit in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
An illegality of this magnitude, a forgery at the very inception of a state-sponsored search, renders everything that follows it inadmissible and void,” the statement added.
Earlier, el-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed that officials of the ICPC searched the former governor’s Abuja residence.
He said the operatives arrived at about 2 p.m. and began searching the premises.
The ICPC later confirmed that El-Rufai was in its custody in connection with an ongoing investigation.
In response, the former chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the anti-graft agency, alleging unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.
Through his legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, el-Rufai is contesting the validity of a search warrant reportedly issued on February 4 by the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who is listed as the second respondent in the suit.
In the originating motion, he named the ICPC as the first respondent, while the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were cited as second, third and fourth respondents, respectively.
Filed on February 20, the suit seeks seven reliefs, including a declaration that the search warrant authorising the raid and seizure at his residence is unconstitutional, invalid and void.
*ICPC claims it found spy gadgets in ex-Kaduna gov’s Abuja home
Meanwhile, operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have reportedly recovered suspected wiretapping devices from the Abuja residence of the former Kaduna State governor.
The equipment is believed to be capable of intercepting conversations and accessing confidential security information.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that the items were seized during a search of the residence, which was carried out in the presence of el-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed Bello.
Former Kaduna State Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, in a Facebook post on Monday, stated that “the agency also alleged that the former governor declined to cooperate with investigators, opting to remain silent until he is brought before a court”.
The report he shared further indicated that “an aide of the former governor linked to the investigation had escaped from the country.”
It also noted that “the anti-graft body made the claims in processes filed before the court, where El-Rufai is seeking redress and release from detention”.
The commission further revealed that it obtained a remand order from a Magistrate Court sitting in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, permitting it to detain El-Rufai for 14 days, with the order expected to expire on Thursday.
“It denied allegations of arbitrary detention and repression of the former governor and asked the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory to dismiss el-Rufai’s application alleging violation of his fundamental human rights.”
In addition, the ICPC stated that “the former governor has corruption allegations to answer, including questions over the whereabouts of €1.4 million; 180 suspicious payments totalling N2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State’s IGR account; and transfers to undisclosed accounts amounting to N428,122,180.18, among others.”
