ICPC Recovers Alleged Wiretapping Equipment from El-Rufai’s Abuja Residence
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it recovered suspected wiretapping equipment allegedly capable of intercepting conversations and accessing sensitive security documents from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
According to processes filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the anti-graft agency stated that the items were discovered during a search of El-Rufai’s residence conducted as part of an ongoing investigation.
The commission said the search was carried out in the presence of the former governor’s wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed Bello.
The ICPC further alleged that El-Rufai declined to cooperate with investigators, opting to remain silent until he is formally arraigned before a competent court.
It also claimed that one of his aides linked to the investigation had fled the country.
The commission maintained that it obtained a remand order from a Magistrate Court in Bwari, FCT, to detain the former governor for 14 days pending investigation.
The order, it said, is due to expire on Thursday. Responding to claims of arbitrary detention and repression, the anti-graft body denied violating El-Rufai’s fundamental human rights and urged the FCT High Court to dismiss his application seeking enforcement of those rights and immediate release from custody.
In addition to the alleged recovery of surveillance devices, the ICPC said the former governor has corruption allegations to answer.
These include questions over the whereabouts of €1.4 million; 180 suspicious payments totalling N2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account; and transfers to undisclosed accounts amounting to N428,122,180.18, among other transactions under review.
El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, is contesting his detention in court.
As of the time of filing this report, his legal team had not publicly responded to the latest claims contained in the ICPC’s court filings.
