El-Rufai's Family Denies ICPC Phone-Tapping Claims, Alleges Forged Warrant
The wife and son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have vehemently denied reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) retrieved sophisticated phone-tapping devices from his Abuja residence during a raid. The family has labeled the allegations as false and based on a forged warrant.
ICPC's Allegations and Court Proceedings
On February 19, the ICPC conducted a raid on El-Rufai's Abuja home. According to the agency, suspected wiretapping equipment, allegedly capable of intercepting private conversations and accessing sensitive security documents, was discovered in the ex-governor's house. This disclosure was made in court processes filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where El-Rufai is challenging his detention and seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
Family's Strong Rebuttal
In a statement released on March 2, Mohammed El-Rufai, the son of the former governor, asserted that the claim about finding phone-tapping equipment is entirely false. He described the ICPC's list of seized items as a work of fiction designed to create an image of espionage and criminality.
Key points from Mohammed El-Rufai's statement include:
- Endorsement: The list of seized equipment has not been endorsed by Mallam El-Rufai or his legal representatives.
- Reality of Seized Items: "We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones, some dating back as much as 20 years, storage devices like flash drives and laptops, which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen, were seized from the property. The alleged 'sophisticated tapping equipment' and 'sensitive security documents' exist only in the fevered imagination of the ICPC and its press team."
- Alleged Forged Warrant: The family claims the entire investigation is based on a rotten foundation, with a legally defective warrant that they allege was forged. They state that the warrant was fraudulently procured and presented by a Magistrate who was purporting to sit in the High Court of the FCT, rendering everything that follows inadmissible and void. Their lawyers have challenged this warrant in court.
Wife's Response on Social Media
Hadiza El-Rufai, the wife of the former governor, also took to X (formerly Twitter) to dismiss the claims that phone-tapping devices were found in their house. Her public denial adds to the family's unified stance against the ICPC's allegations.
Legal and Political Implications
This controversy arises amid El-Rufai's ongoing legal battle over his detention and human rights. The family's allegations of a forged warrant could significantly impact the credibility of the ICPC's investigation and the court proceedings. The case highlights tensions between anti-corruption agencies and political figures in Nigeria, with potential repercussions for public trust in judicial and law enforcement processes.
The ICPC has yet to respond publicly to the family's latest statements, but the matter is expected to be further litigated in court as both sides present their evidence and arguments.
