The family of former Kaduna State governor Nasir el Rufai has vehemently rejected assertions by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that sophisticated phone-tapping equipment was seized from his Abuja residence, branding the claims as unfounded and misleading.
In a statement released Monday and signed by El-Rufai’s son, Mohammed, the family accused the anti-graft agency of engaging in a “media war” and distorting the outcome of a recent search of the former governor’s property. The statement comes amid ongoing legal and political pressures facing el Rufai, who has been entangled in multiple investigations by Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies.
The family insisted that El-Rufai’s decision not to answer investigators’ questions was protected by constitutional rights. “The Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent,” the statement said, rejecting suggestions that his non-response constituted non-cooperation with the probe.
They also challenged the ICPC’s claim of confiscating “sophisticated tapping equipment” and “sensitive security documents,” saying only personal devices — such as old mobile phones, flash drives and laptops — were taken during the search and describing the allegations as “a work of fiction.” The family accused the commission’s statement of attempting to “conjure images of espionage and criminality.”
In a strongly worded rebuttal, the El-Rufai family alleged that the search itself was premised on a forged warrant. They said their legal team has taken the matter to court, arguing that any evidence obtained through an unlawful search should be dismissed as inadmissible. “We have credible evidence that the warrant was a forgery … presented by a Magistrate purporting to act with High Court authority,” the statement said.
The former governor and his legal team have also initiated legal actions seeking damages and challenging the conduct of the ICPC, claiming violations of his fundamental rights during the operation.
El-Rufai’s troubles extend beyond the ICPC allegation of illicit surveillance. He remains in custody amid related investigations by multiple agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), which allege financial impropriety and breach of cybercrime and communications laws.
At a Federal High Court session in Abuja, prosecutors cited a recent television interview in which he reportedly admitted to unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, a charge he denies.
The arrest and prolonged detention have triggered protests in Kaduna State and calls for due process, with supporters decrying what they see as selective enforcement and political persecution. Conversely, critics and civil society groups have demanded deeper scrutiny of his conduct while in office.
Legal experts say the unfolding saga highlight debates in Nigeria about constitutional rights, the powers of anti-graft agencies and the rule of law. The constitution-guaranteed privacy of communications — protected under Section 37 — and strict conditions for lawful interception under the Cybercrimes Act and Nigerian Communications Act have been cited by commentators as central to understanding both sides of the controversy.
