The family of ex-Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has refuted reports that operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) recovered sophisticated phone-tapping equipment and sensitive security documents during a raid on his father’s Abuja residence.
His son, Mohammed El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency, in a statement on Monday, described the claims as false and politically motivated, insisting that no “sophisticated tapping equipment” was seized during the search.
The family’s rebuttal follows media reports quoting ICPC affidavits filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to wit: operatives allegedly recovered “electronic magnetic equipment capable of tapping conversations” and “sensitive security documents capable of compromising national security” during the search, conducted in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, and son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.
The ICPC was further quoted as saying, “The applicant (El-Rufai), on national television (Arise Television), admitted to tapping telephone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
“During the search operations, the commission retrieved electronic magnetic equipment allegedly capable of tapping conversations.
“He was asked to give consent to enable the commission access the equipment, but he refused. A copy of the consent form is attached and marked Exhibit ICPC 5.
“The search also retrieved sensitive security documents of various security agencies of the government.
“The applicant is also allegedly threatening likely prosecution witnesses, and one such witness has written to the commission seeking protection. A copy of the letter is attached and marked Exhibit ICPC 6.”
In response, in a statement issued on Monday and posted on his X handle, El-Rufai junior said the family viewed the allegations “with a mixture of contempt and amusement,” accusing the commission of engaging in a “media war rather than adhere to the rule of law.”
On the issue of alleged non-cooperation, the statement defended El-Rufai’s decision to remain silent during interactions with investigators, describing it as a constitutional right.
“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 read.
Quoting the former governor, the family added, “Charge me, if you have anything against me. You have had more than 2 years to investigate me. Take me to court, please.”
The statement also disputed the list of items allegedly recovered by the ICPC, claiming that only “old discarded personal mobile phones… storage devices like flash drives and laptops” were taken from the property.
“We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones… storage devices like flash drives and laptops, which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen, were seized from the property,” the statement read.
The family went on to claim that the search warrant used for the operation was defective and had been challenged in court.
“Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said, alleging that the warrant was fraudulently procured.
Mohammed El-Rufai maintained that the family had instructed its legal team to pursue all available remedies, including challenging what it described as an illegal search and defamatory statements.
