- Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, spent a second night in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
- His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the search of his Aso Drive residence as unlawful and a violation of due process
- Reports suggest the probe may be linked to the N11.1bn Kaduna light rail project, though this remains unverified
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, spent a second night in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday, February 19, as his legal team protested the search of his Abuja home.
El-Rufai was first detained on Monday, February 16, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and released late Wednesday, February, 18. However, he was immediately taken into custody by the ICPC, where he has remained since.
Before his arrest, the former governor had written to the ICPC through his lawyers, expressing his readiness to honour an invitation scheduled for Tuesday, February 17.
The development followed an incident at the airport where his passport was reportedly seized by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
An ICPC official confirmed to the PUNCH on Thursday, February 19, that El-Rufai was still in the commission’s custody but declined to provide details about the investigation.
“He is still very much with us. I can’t say the offence he is being investigated for. I have not really been in the office, but I was informed that the former Kaduna State governor is still with us,” the source said.
The ICPC had earlier acknowledged taking custody of El-Rufai on Wednesday, February 18, but similarly refused to disclose the specific offence under investigation.
There have been unverified reports suggesting that the investigation may be allegedly connected to the failed N11.1bn Joint Venture Kaduna light rail project, although independent confirmation of the claim has not been obtained.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed on X that operatives of the ICPC conducted a search at the former governor’s residence on Aso Drive, Abuja.
According to him, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, criticised the action, describing it as unlawful and contrary to due process.
“The Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai was today searched by the ICPC. Ubong Akpan, Malam El- Rufai’s lawyer, condemned the action as unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights,” he posted on X.