Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered surveillance equipment allegedly capable of intercepting conversations and sensitive security documents from the Abuja home of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that a Magistrate Court in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), granted it a 14-day remand order to hold el-Rufai for investigation, set to expire Thursday, March 5, while rejecting his claims of arbitrary detention and human rights violations.
ICPC operatives conducted a search on February 19 at el-Rufai’s residence on No. 12 Mambila Street, Aso Drive, Asokoro, witnessed by his wife, Hadiza Isma el-Rufai, and son, Mohammed Bello el-Rufai, retrieving electronic devices purportedly used for tapping phone conversations—including those of National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu—and classified documents from various security agencies.
The former governor, who admitted on Arise Television to monitoring the NSA’s communications, declined consent to access the equipment and has refused to cooperate with investigators, exercising his right to silence until arraigned in court.
ICPC’s affidavit, deposed by Litigation Officer David Efuk before an FCT High Court where el-Rufai seeks redress, detailed grave corruption allegations: accountability for €1.4 million in unexplained cash withdrawals; 180 suspicious payments totaling N2.158 billion from Kaduna’s Consolidated Revenue Account; N428 million transferred to undisclosed accounts; and N721 million in debit card transactions on a revenue account, among others.
The commission further alleged procurement breaches during el-Rufai’s tenure, including abandoned projects despite full contractor payments, unremitted funds to the Treasury Single Account, and N98.9 billion in domestic loans plus over $7.3 billion in foreign debt with questionable execution under the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2016.
Efforts to invite el-Rufai voluntarily failed after multiple letters; he was eventually released from EFCC custody to ICPC on February 18 following an airport interception attempt via DSS assistance.
One of el-Rufai’s aides, implicated in the probe, has fled the country, while the former governor allegedly threatens witnesses—a claim backed by a protection request letter submitted to ICPC.
El-Rufai, now a prominent African Democratic Congress (ADC) figure, contends the probe constitutes political persecution against opposition voices, vowing to respond only in court after nearly two years of scrutiny.
ICPC countered that due process was followed per a petition, preliminary bank and institutional document reviews established prima facie evidence, and it commits to filing charges before the remand lapses, urging the court to dismiss his rights suit in the public interest.
The agency emphasised its mandate precludes arbitrary arrests, affirming lawful detention to complete investigations into abuse of office and related offences.
