The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered suspected wiretapping equipment allegedly capable of intercepting private conversations and accessing sensitive security documents from the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The commission disclosed this 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, according to The Nation.
According to the anti-graft agency, the items were retrieved during a search of El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja, noting that the operation was conducted in the presence of his wife, Hadiza, and his son, Mohammed Bello.
The ICPC further alleged that the former Governor declined to cooperate with investigators, choosing to remain silent pending his appearance before a court of law. It also claimed that an aide linked to the investigation had fled the country.
In its court filings, the commission denied allegations of arbitrary detention and political repression, insisting that its actions were backed by lawful authority. It said it obtained a detention order from a Magistrate Court in Bwari, within the FCT, authorising El-Rufai’s remand for 14 days.
The order, according to the agency, is set to expire on Thursday.
The ICPC insists that it followed due process in inviting El-Rufai based on a petition alleging corrupt practices.
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The ICPC also detailed multiple corruption allegations against the former Governor.
These include questions surrounding the whereabouts of €1.4 million; 180 suspicious payments totalling N2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account allegedly linked to Kaduna State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account; and transfers to undisclosed accounts.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
