Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Thursday conducted a search at the residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in what signals a dramatic escalation of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure.
The development was confirmed in a statement by Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to the former governor, who disclosed that ICPC officials carried out the operation earlier in the day.
Reacting swiftly, one of El-Rufai’s lawyers, Ubong Akpan, condemned the search, describing it as “unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights.”
The legal team insisted that due process must be strictly observed, warning that any deviation would be challenged in court.
The latest move comes amid reports that El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since Wednesday night, shortly after his release on administrative bail from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Sources familiar with the probe say investigators are examining transactions and financial decisions taken during his time as governor of Kaduna State, though official details of the allegations remain undisclosed.
The unfolding events have sent ripples across Nigeria’s political landscape, with analysts describing the development as one of the most high-profile anti-corruption actions involving a former state governor in recent times.
As the investigation deepens, attention now turns to the next legal steps — and whether the battle will shift from the corridors of anti-graft agencies to the courtroom.
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