The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the anti-corruption agency, ICPC of falsely claiming it discovered sophisticated phone-tapping equipment during a search of his residence.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the family described the anti-corruption agency’s allegations as “phantom” and “a work of fiction,” insisting that only old personal devices were recovered from the property.
The reaction follows reports that the ICPC, through an affidavit filed before the FCT High Court, alleged that sensitive equipment capable of intercepting communications, as well as classified security documents, were recovered from the Abuja home of the former governor.
According to the family, members were present during the search and witnessed the items seized. They maintained that, contrary to the ICPC’s public statement, no surveillance or wire-tapping devices were discovered.
“We were present when these items were seized,” the statement read. “No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones, some dating back as much as 20 years, storage devices like flash drives and laptops — which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen — were taken from the property.”
The family further alleged that claims of “sophisticated tapping equipment” and “sensitive security documents” were fabricated by the agency.
Beyond disputing the seized items, the family also challenged the legality of the search, alleging that the warrant used to conduct the operation was defective and fraudulently obtained.
According to the statement, their legal team has filed a challenge in court, arguing that the warrant was improperly issued and that any evidence obtained as a result should be declared inadmissible.
The family also addressed claims that El-Rufai refused to cooperate with investigators, arguing that exercising the constitutional right to remain silent cannot be interpreted as non-cooperation or an admission of guilt.
The ICPC is currently investigating El-Rufai over alleged corruption, invloving the whereabouts of €1.4 million; 180 suspicious payments totaling N2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account; and transfers to undisclosed accounts amounting to N428,122,180.18, among other allegations.
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