Lawyer fumes as ICPC operatives raid El-Rufai’s Abuja residence

By Isaac Aregbesola

Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday conducted a search at the residence of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai in Abuja who is under probe for alleged corrupt dealings.

Though ICPC has not confirmed the raid, but the the former governor’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed the development in a post on his X handle.

Adekeye stated that ICPC officials visited the residence earlier in the day.

“UPDATE: The residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai was today searched by the ICPC,” he wrote.

The action may be connected with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct during El-Rufai’s administration.

The search followed heightened scrutiny of his tenure while he has been in ICPC custody since Wednesday night.

He was taken into custody by ICPC operatives after his release on administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

EFCC had earlier detained the former governor on Monday after he honoured the commission’s invitation.

However, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan described the raid on his client residence “as unlawful, and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights”.

The investigation of ICPC and EFCC focused on the former governor’s eight-year administration between 2015 and 2023.

The two anti-graft agencies are probing alleged financial improprieties by the governor during the eight-year period

ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, had earlier confirmed that the former governor was being questioned by investigators, adding that inquiries were ongoing, but gave no further details. (NAN)