ABUJA – Barely 24 hours after his transfer into their custody, operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday conducted a rigorous search of the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.
The raid on the Aso Drive property commenced at approximately 2:00 PM and lasted several hours. Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to the former governor, confirmed the operation via a social media statement, while el-Rufai’s legal counsel, Ubong Akpan, swiftly condemned the search as “unlawful” and a “clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights”.
A Merry-Go-Round of Detentions
The search marks the latest escalation in a week of rapid legal maneuvers involving three separate agencies:
- EFCC Custody: El-Rufai voluntarily presented himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday to address allegations of a N423 billion fund diversion during his tenure.
- DSS Re-arrest: Upon being granted administrative bail by the EFCC late Wednesday, he was immediately intercepted by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.
- ICPC Transfer: By Thursday, the ICPC confirmed it had taken over custody of the former governor in connection with “ongoing investigations”.
Cybercrime and Corruption Charges
While the anti-graft agencies focus on financial records, the DSS has already filed a three-count criminal charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026) at the Federal High Court. The charges allege that el-Rufai admitted during a recent television interview to the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Prosecutors claim this act violated the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 and posed a significant threat to national security.
Growing Public Backlash
The coordinated nature of the raids and the continuous “shuffling” of el-Rufai between agencies have sparked a wave of criticism from Nigerians across the political spectrum.
“This is no longer a search for justice; it’s a state-sponsored circus,” remarked a legal analyst on social media, echoing a common sentiment that the timing appears politically motivated. Critics point to el-Rufai’s recent vocal opposition to the current administration and his alignment with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the true driver of the investigations.
“When you see three different agencies fighting over one man in 72 hours, it’s about intimidation, not accountability,” posted a prominent commentator. However, some groups, such as the Kaduna Scribe advocacy organization, have countered these claims, accusing the former governor of “selective amnesia” and insisting that the N423 billion in missing public funds must be fully accounted for, regardless of the political optics.
As of Thursday night, el-Rufai remains in ICPC custody as investigators continue to review documents seized during the residence search.
