The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has strongly rejected allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that he possessed sophisticated phone-tapping equipment, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, the family accused the anti-corruption agency of waging a “media war” rather than adhering to due process.
The family defended El-Rufai’s decision not to respond to certain ICPC inquiries, insisting that his silence was a constitutional right and not an indication of guilt.
According to the statement, El-Rufai had repeatedly challenged the commission to formally charge him if evidence existed against him. The family maintained that the ICPC had more than two years to investigate and should proceed to court if it had a case.
The family also disputed the ICPC’s claim that sophisticated surveillance or phone-tapping equipment was recovered during a search of El-Rufai’s property.
They stated that only old mobile phones, storage devices, and laptops were taken, describing them as standard personal belongings. The alleged specialized equipment and sensitive security documents, the statement said, “exist only in the imagination” of the commission.
Additionally, the family noted that neither El-Rufai nor his legal representatives endorsed the list of items publicized by the ICPC.
Central to the family’s response is the claim that the search warrant used by the ICPC was invalid. The statement alleged that the warrant was fraudulently obtained and signed under questionable jurisdictional circumstances.
The family said their legal team has challenged the validity of the warrant in court, arguing that any evidence obtained through what they described as an illegal search would be inadmissible.
The El-Rufai family accused the ICPC of defamation and abuse of office, vowing to pursue all available legal remedies. They expressed confidence that the judiciary would address what they termed executive overreach and protect their constitutional rights.
The ICPC has yet to respond publicly to the fresh allegations contained in the family’s statement.
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