El-Rufai Claims ICPC Is Plotting His Political Exit

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of attempting to prevent him from engaging in political activities. The allegation was made in a 30-page criminal complaint filed against ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu and four other agency officials.

According to the filing, El-Rufai claimed that during his detention, ICPC officers informed him that his release would only be granted if he ceased participating in politics. The complaint, particularly in Paragraph 12, states that these demands were allegedly made under the authority of the ICPC chairman and amounted to an effort to force him to abandon his constitutional rights.

Supporting affidavits further detailed that El-Rufai was repeatedly told his continued involvement in politics could extend his detention, and only a formal commitment to withdraw from political activities would secure his release. These allegations underpin Count Six of the complaint, which accuses the officials of wrongful confinement with intent to compel, an offence outlined under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code.

El-Rufai is requesting the court to scrutinize the conduct of the ICPC officials, describing their actions as an abuse of office and an unlawful attempt to restrict his political participation.