The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has strongly dismissed recent accusations from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), labeling them as baseless and politically motivated.
In a detailed rebuttal issued on March 2, 2026, they accused the agency of launching a smear campaign through media channels, including reports in The Nation newspaper citing ICPC insiders.
The statement, released amid El-Rufai’s ongoing legal battles, aims to counter narratives about recovered phone-tapping devices and other items from his Abuja home.
According to the ICPC, agents retrieved advanced wiretapping tools and confidential security files during a raid on El-Rufai’s residence, conducted in front of his wife, Hadiza, and son, Mohammed Bello.
The commission further stated that El-Rufai has refused to assist investigators, choosing instead to stay quiet until formally charged in court.
AsThey also mentioned that one of his aides implicated in the probe has fled Nigeria.
These details emerged in court documents where the ICPC defended its actions against El-Rufai’s lawsuits seeking freedom from custody and alleging rights violations.
Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, a federal lawmaker representing Kaduna North and chair of the House Committee on Banking Regulations, who signed the family statement as a “proud son,” emphasized the constitutional protections at play.
“Our father, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has said in all interactions with law enforcement: ‘CHARGE ME, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ME. YOU HAVE HAD MORE THAN 2 YEARS TO INVESTIGATE ME. TAKE ME TO COURT PLEASE,'” he quoted, adding that the ICPC’s frustration stems from their inability to substantiate claims, leading to what he called “lies and obfuscation.”
The family contended that the ICPC’s inventory of confiscated items is entirely invented, insisting no specialized surveillance gear was taken.
They noted that only outdated personal cell phones—some over two decades old—along with common items like USB drives and computers were removed.
“This list has not been endorsed by Mallam el-Rufai or his legal representatives,” Mohammed Bello El-Rufai stated, explaining that family members witnessed the search and saw no evidence of the “sophisticated tapping equipment” or “sensitive security documents” described by the agency, which he dismissed as products of the ICPC’s “fevered imagination.”
Highlighting procedural irregularities, the family revealed that the search stemmed from a questionable warrant they believe was forged.
They claimed a magistrate improperly assumed the authority of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to issue it under misleading circumstances.
“Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” Mohammed Bello El-Rufai said, inviting the ICPC to justify in legal proceedings how such a jurisdictional overstep occurred, rendering the entire operation invalid and any findings inadmissible.
The statement also criticized the ICPC’s overall integrity, accusing it of hypocrisy by fabricating stories while purporting to fight corruption.
Mohammed Bello El-Rufai pointed out that the agency’s press release exemplifies “projection, the guilty person ascribing his crimes to his victim,” filled with forgeries and falsehoods that undermine its mandate.
He warned that the commission, seemingly influenced by political forces, risks further disrepute, especially given a prior court ruling criticizing it for similar fake warrants in another case.
In broader context, the ICPC obtained a 14-day detention order for El-Rufai from a Bwari Magistrate Court in the FCT, set to lapse on Thursday following his arrest.
The agency refuted claims of unlawful holding, urging the FCT High Court to reject his fundamental rights suit.
They outlined additional probes into financial misconduct during his 2015-2023 governorship, such as the disappearance of €1.4 million, 180 dubious transactions totaling over N2.15 billion from state revenue accounts, and unexplained transfers of about N428 million to unknown recipients.
El-Rufai’s troubles intensified after returning from Egypt on February 12, 2026, when security personnel tried to apprehend him at Abuja’s airport.
He was held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16 for questioning on graft issues, then transferred to ICPC custody two days later upon bail.
The State Security Service (SSS) subsequently charged him with unlawfully monitoring a call by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, based on El-Rufai’s own TV interview admission that he and an associate eavesdropped on Ribadu instructing agents to detain him at the airport.
An arraignment on these interception charges was planned for a Federal High Court session but postponed because the ICPC failed to present El-Rufai, with Judge Joyce Abdulmalik rescheduling it for April 23.
Throughout, El-Rufai has filed multiple court applications challenging the agencies’ moves and potential future actions against him.
The family expressed confidence in the judiciary to dismantle what they term an “orchestrated smear campaign” and “executive overreach.”
“We will not be tried in the court of public opinion by a discredited agency acting on behalf of political masters,” Mohammed Bello El-Rufai declared, confirming that their legal team is pursuing remedies against the allegedly illegal search, falsified warrant, and defamatory ICPC remarks.
He added that it wouldn’t shock them if the agency fabricated more evidence, given its history.
Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, who had stepped back from social media to prioritize Ramadan, family, and constituency duties, used the platform to share the response and call for prayers for peace in Nigeria and globally, extending Ramadan greetings.
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