The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dismissed a member of its internal security team, Daniel Stephen, after CCTV footage showed him facilitating an unauthorised visit to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai while he was in the commission's custody. The incident occurred on July 5, 2026, when Stephen was filmed escorting Aichatou Assabe El-Rufai, one of the former governor's wives, into the ICPC facility through channels that bypassed the commission's official visitor access procedures.
Officer's Admission to Investigation Panel
Vanguard reported that Stephen submitted a handwritten statement to an internal investigation panel in which he acknowledged his role in the incident. According to The Cable, he confirmed he drove Assabe onto the commission's premises, led her through a back entrance, and took her upstairs to the section where El-Rufai was being held.
Stephen told the panel that visitors were required to have their details recorded at the facility's gate and obtain clearance from the head of the security unit before gaining entry. He admitted he did not follow this procedure and accepted that his conduct constituted a breach of the commission's rules.
Earlier Incidents Also Alleged
Sources within the ICPC said Stephen's statement pointed to conduct that went further than the July 5 visit. He reportedly described an earlier occasion on which he escorted Assabe further into the facility while officials were still in the process of confirming her identity.
Following that encounter, a man who identified himself as El-Rufai's blood brother approached Stephen. According to his account, Stephen agreed to assist this individual as well and brought him into the facility through the back entrance.
El-Rufai's Detention and Charges
El-Rufai has been held by the ICPC since February 19, 2026, when he was transferred from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He faces charges of money laundering and conversion of public property, allegations he has denied.
Legit.ng earlier reported that ADC national publicity secretary Bolaji Abdullahi issued a direct warning to President Tinubu over the detention of former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai. Abdullahi alleged that El-Rufai's continued custody is politically motivated and designed to sideline him from the 2027 elections.
El-Rufai is facing separate trials by the DSS and ICPC, with his bail application dismissed in early July, while his wives appealed to Tinubu for help.
