Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has spent a second night in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as his lawyers protest what they describe as an unlawful search of his Abuja residence.
El-Rufai was initially detained on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and released late Wednesday, only to be immediately taken into custody by the ICPC, where he has remained.
Before his arrest, the former governor had written to the commission through his legal team, expressing willingness to honour an invitation scheduled for Tuesday.
The development followed an earlier incident at the airport where operatives of the Department of State Services reportedly seized his passport.
An ICPC official confirmed Thursday night that El-Rufai was still in the commission’s custody but declined to disclose details of the investigation.
“He is still very much with us. I can’t say the offence he is being investigated for,” the source said.
Although there are unverified claims linking the probe to the failed N11.1 billion Kaduna light rail joint venture project, independent confirmation was not available as of press time.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed on X that operatives of the ICPC searched the former governor’s residence on Aso Drive, Abuja.
According to Adekeye, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the search as unlawful and a violation of due process and fundamental rights.
“The Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai was today searched by the ICPC. Ubong Akpan condemned the action as unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights,” the aide stated.
Efforts to reach ICPC spokesperson John Odey for further clarification were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.