By Ayomide Otitoju
The family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of acting unlawfully in a recent search of his Abuja residence.
In a statement issued by his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, the family rejected claims that the former governor refused 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 guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent. This is not non-cooperation; it is a fundamental human right,” the statement partly read.
The family also dismissed reports that specialised phone-tapping or espionage devices were discovered at a property linked to El-Rufai, insisting that only “old discarded personal mobile phones, flash drives, and laptops” were taken.
They questioned the legality of the search operation, alleging that the warrant authorising the raid was improperly obtained and lacked jurisdiction. Their legal team has approached the courts to challenge the validity of the warrant and any material seized under 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 renders everything that follows it inadmissible and void,” the statement added.
ICPC officials reportedly arrived at El-Rufai’s Abuja residence around 2 p.m. and conducted a full search, according to a statement by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye. The commission also confirmed that El-Rufai was in its custody in connection with an ongoing investigation.
Subsequently, the former ADC chieftain filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against ICPC, contesting the alleged unlawful invasion of his residence. The suit, filed on February 20 by his lawyers led by Oluwole Iyamu, names ICPC as the first respondent, with the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation listed as second to fourth respondents.
El-Rufai is seeking a court declaration that the search warrant issued on February 4 was invalid, null, and void, alongside six other reliefs challenging the legality of the operation.
