The family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir
El-Rufai, has dismissed allegations that he refused to cooperate with
investigators from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
In a statement issued by his son, Mohammed Bello
El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, the family described the
commission’s claims as baseless and legally flawed.
“The ICPC has ludicrously attempted to weaponise the
silence of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai against him, claiming he ‘refused to
cooperate’. We must educate the Commission on the most basic tenet of Nigerian
jurisprudence,” the statement read.
Citing constitutional protections, the family argued
that the right to remain silent is guaranteed under Nigerian law and does not
amount to non-cooperation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent. This is not an act of
non-cooperation; it is a fundamental human right,” the statement added.
Dispute Over Seized Items
The family also denied reports that specialised
phone-tapping or espionage devices were discovered at a property linked to
El-Rufai. They insisted that only “old discarded personal mobile phones, flash
drives, and laptops” were taken during the search.
They further questioned the legality of the operation,
alleging that the search warrant authorising the raid was improperly obtained
and lacked jurisdiction.
‘Legally Defective Warrant’
According to the statement, El-Rufai’s legal team has
approached the court to challenge the validity of the warrant and any evidence
obtained through it.
“The entire foundation of this investigation is
rotten. The search that purportedly uncovered these phantom items originated
from a legally defective warrant,” the family said.
They claimed to possess credible evidence that the
warrant was forged and fraudulently procured by a magistrate allegedly acting
outside proper jurisdiction.
“An illegality of this magnitude — a forgery at the
very inception of a state-sponsored search — renders everything that follows it
inadmissible and void,” the statement asserted.
N1 Billion Fundamental Rights Suit
The ICPC confirmed that El-Rufai was in its custody in
connection with an ongoing investigation. His Abuja residence was reportedly
searched by commission officials around 2 p.m., according to his media aide,
Muyiwa Adekeye.
Following the raid, the former chieftain of the
African Democratic Congress (ADC) filed a N1 billion fundamental rights
enforcement suit against the agency, alleging unlawful invasion of his
residence.
Through his legal team led by Oluwole Iyamu (SAN),
El-Rufai is challenging the validity of the February 4 search warrant issued by
the Chief Magistrate of the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT.
In the suit filed on February 20, he named the ICPC as
the first respondent, while the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate’s Court,
the Nigeria Police Force (represented by the Inspector-General of Police), and
the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as second to fourth
respondents.
El-Rufai is seeking seven reliefs, including a
declaration that the search warrant authorising the search and seizure at his
residence was invalid, null, and void.
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