By Ayomide Otitoju
The Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was searched on Thursday by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed.
According to the statement, ICPC operatives arrived around 2 p.m. and conducted a thorough search of the property. El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described the operation as “unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights.”
El-Rufai had been reported in ICPC custody since Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in connection with an ongoing investigation. The commission’s Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, provided no further details regarding the nature of the case.
The former governor’s detention follows a series of engagements with security agencies over alleged financial improprieties during his tenure from 2015 to 2023. Last week, he confirmed receiving an ICPC invitation after an unsuccessful attempt by operatives to arrest him. Prior to this, he had visited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja over related allegations.
Reports also indicate that security operatives attempted to arrest El-Rufai upon his return from Cairo, Egypt. He later claimed that a phone wiretap on National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu allowed him to intercept instructions for his arrest. Subsequently, the Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count charge against him for allegedly intercepting Ribadu’s phone conversation, citing Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
