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 security-sensitive documents and electronic devices capable of intercepting communications were recovered from his Abuja residence during a recent search.
The anti-graft agency, in court filings, stated that it executed a search warrant at the former governor’s residence at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja, on 19 February. According to the commission, the search was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.
The ICPC alleged that the operation led to the recovery of “sensitive security documents capable of compromising national security” and “electronic magnetic equipment capable of tapping conversations.” The commission further claimed that El-Rufai declined to grant consent for a forensic examination of some of the seized devices.
However, Mohammed El-Rufai, a serving member of the House of Representatives, dismissed the allegations in a statement issued Monday, accusing the commission of attempting to weaponise his father’s constitutional right to remain silent.
He argued that the ICPC’s suggestion that silence implied guilt reflected “an inquisitorial mindset and disregard for the very laws they are sworn to uphold.”
The lawmaker described the alleged recovery of sophisticated surveillance equipment and sensitive security documents as fictitious, insisting that what was taken from the residence were “old discarded personal mobile phones, some dating back as much as 20 years, storage devices like flash drives and laptops, which are standard possessions of any 21st century citizen.”
He maintained that the claims about wiretapping devices “exist only in the imagination of the ICPC and its press team.”
The dispute follows a suit filed by El-Rufai at the High Court, challenging his arrest and detention by the commission as a violation of his fundamental rights. He is seeking a declaration that his detention was unlawful and N1 billion in damages.
In an affidavit supporting his application, the former governor confirmed 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 respond to the allegations in court.
In a counter-affidavit, the ICPC maintained that El-Rufai was lawfully detained in connection with an ongoing corruption investigation linked to his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023. The agency said the probe involves allegations of financial misconduct relating to state loans, procurement processes, transfers from government accounts, and payments to companies and individuals.
The commission said it commenced preliminary investigations and obtained relevant documents from banks and government institutions before issuing an invitation letter dated 9 February. It explained that the letter could not be served earlier because El-Rufai was outside the country and was eventually delivered on 12 February upon his return.
According to the ICPC, El-Rufai’s lawyers requested that he appear before the commission on 18 February. Before that date, however, he responded to a separate invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which detained him and later granted him administrative bail.
The ICPC stated that he failed to meet the EFCC’s bail conditions and remained in its custody until 18 February, when he was released and subsequently arrested by the ICPC.
On 19 February, the commission obtained a remand order from a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja, authorising it to detain El-Rufai for 14 days pending investigation into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. The order, issued by Magistrate Okechukwu Akweke, set a return date in March for a progress report.
The ICPC informed the High Court that the remand order would expire on 5 March and indicated its intention to file charges before that date.
In addition, the commission told the court that a potential prosecution witness had written to request protection, alleging threats following public comments made during a television interview. It attached the letter as part of its court filings.
The ICPC argued that inviting and detaining a suspect based on reasonable suspicion does not constitute a breach of fundamental rights, citing relevant constitutional provisions and the ICPC Act to support its position.
It urged the court to dismiss El-Rufai’s suit and allow it to complete its investigation.