ICPC raids el-Rufai’s residence in Abuja

Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and OtherRelated Offences Commission (ICPC) have reportedly conducted a search at theAbuja residence of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna. Muyiwa Adekeye, the media aide to el-Rufai, in a briefstatement that agents of the anti-corruption commission carried out the searchon Thursday. “UPDATE: The Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai wastoday searched by the ICPC. Ubong Akpan, Malam El- Rufai’s lawyer, condemnedthe action “as unlawful, and a clear violation of legal procedures andfundamental rights”,” Adekeye wrote on X. Okor Odey, ICPC’s head of media and public communications,was not available for comments on the development when contacted by TheCable. On Wednesday night, ICPC said it took the former governorinto custody in connection with ongoing investigations. Before his arrest by the ICPC, el-Rufai was reportedly inthe custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) after spending two nightsat the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On Monday, the former governor presented himself at the EFCCheadquarters following an invitation regarding alleged financial improprietiesduring his tenure as governor of Kaduna state between 2015 and 2023. In 2024, the Kaduna assembly indicted el-Rufai over thealleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering anddemanded that he be investigated by anti-graft agencies. Last Thursday, security operatives attempted to arrestel-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when he toucheddown from Cairo, the capital of Egypt. El-Rufai would later allege that the ICPC, at Nuhu Ribadu,the national security adviser’s instruction, asked the DSS to arrest him uponarrival. On Saturday, during an interview on Prime Time, an AriseTelevision programme, el-Rufai said “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone,allowing him to listen to the NSA directing security operatives to effect hisarrest. On Monday, the DSS filed a three-count charge againstel-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation.

Read More