We’re Just Following Orders” — ICPC Speaks On El-Rufai’s Detention

According to Ireporter Online, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has defended the detention and ongoing prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that its actions are strictly in line with the law and not driven by political considerations.

The commission’s response came after the El-Rufai Support Group Association announced that it had engaged Vanguard Africa, a Washington-based advocacy firm, to lead an international campaign over what it described as a violation of due process and growing concerns about the rule of law in Nigeria.

Reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH, ICPC spokesperson John Odey stated that the agency remained unbothered by attempts to internationalise the matter, stressing that El-Rufai’s detention was backed by a valid court remand order and not arbitrary action by the commission.

Odey maintained that the ICPC was executing its mandate within the confines of the law, adding that the former governor was in custody based on judicial authorization. He further emphasized that the commission was not detaining El-Rufai on its own authority but acting in accordance with legal directives.

The spokesperson also rejected allegations that the agency had been influenced by political interests, describing the ICPC as a non-partisan institution solely focused on enforcing anti-corruption laws regardless of an individual’s political status or affiliation.

He reiterated that the commission prosecutes cases strictly based on infractions under its enabling Act, noting that public office holders, private individuals, or political figures are all subject to the same legal standards.

Meanwhile, the El-Rufai Support Group Association confirmed that Vanguard Africa would coordinate engagement with United States government officials, Congress, and pro-democracy institutions as part of its advocacy efforts. The group described El-Rufai as a seasoned reformer and insisted on his innocence, alleging procedural irregularities in the case.

A representative of the association, Mohammed Salihu, argued that the situation reflects deeper concerns about Nigeria’s democratic institutions, warning that the alleged politicisation of legal processes could undermine democratic integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He further stated that the group considered El-Rufai’s case a broader test of institutional independence, claiming that international attention was necessary to address what they described as misuse of legal mechanisms against opposition figures.

El-Rufai is currently facing prosecution by the ICPC over allegations of abuse of office, financial misconduct, and fraud during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State. He is also facing a separate case brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) relating to alleged unlawful interception of communications involving the Office of the National Security Adviser.