Trending 
The family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of conducting a “malicious smear campaign” in connection with an investigation involving alleged surveillance equipment.
In a statement issued by his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, the family refuted claims that the former governor had declined 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 suggesting that specialised phone-tapping or espionage devices were recovered from a property linked to El-Rufai. According to them, only “old discarded personal mobile phones, flash drives, and laptops” were taken during the operation.
They further challenged the legality of the search, alleging that the warrant authorising the raid was improperly obtained and outside the appropriate jurisdiction.
The family stated that their legal representatives have already approached the courts to contest both the validity of the warrant and any materials obtained through it.
“The entire foundation of this investigation is rotten. The search that purportedly uncovered these phantom items originated from 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.
According to a statement by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, officials of the ICPC searched the former governor’s residence in Abuja. The statement indicated that operatives arrived at about 2 p.m. and immediately commenced a search of the entire premises.
The ICPC confirmed that El-Rufai was in its custody in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Subsequently, the former chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) instituted a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement action against the agency, alleging unlawful invasion of his Abuja home.
Through his legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai is contesting the validity of a search warrant issued on 4 February 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 on notice, El-Rufai named the ICPC as the first respondent. The Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja Magisterial District; the Nigeria Police Force, represented by the Inspector-General of Police; and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as second to fourth respondents respectively.
In the suit dated and filed on 20 February by Iyamu, the former governor is seeking seven reliefs, including a declaration that the search warrant authorising the search and seizure at his residence is invalid, null and void.
