El-Rufai claims ICPC investigation is politically motivated, refuses to answer questions

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has asserted that the investigation against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is driven by political motives.

The ICPC is looking into allegations of financial misconduct linked to his time in office as governor from 2015 to 2023.

He has been held in ICPC custody since February 19, following his release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

As part of standard procedure, the anti-corruption agency collected written statements from him. According to court documents from an ICPC officer, these statements were prepared by El-Rufai on February 19 and 20, 2026.

They were included in a counter-affidavit he filed in the FCT High Court, challenging the legality of a search conducted at his home in Abuja on February 19. Reports indicate that these statements were made in the presence of his lawyer, Ubong Akpan.

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In his February 19 statement, El-Rufai alleged that the investigation is connected to his affiliation with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he called “the only surviving opposition party in Nigeria.” He stated that, following his lawyer’s advice, he would exercise his right to remain silent and would not respond to ICPC investigators. He suggested that the commission should present the findings of its nearly two-year investigation to a judicial tribunal.

In his subsequent statement on February 20, El-Rufai reiterated his decision not to answer investigators’ questions, asserting that he would address any allegations in a court setting. He reiterated his stance that the probe constitutes political persecution and stressed that only a judge has the authority to assess the investigati on’s validity.