The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has dismissed claims that the detention and trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, are politically driven, insisting the case is strictly based on its anti-corruption mandate.
The Commission also rejected allegations that El-Rufai was denied access to food or medical care while in custody, stating that he has been allowed to receive visits from family members and consult doctors of his choice within approved visiting hours.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said the former governor remains in custody because he has not met his court-approved bail conditions.
“The court granted him bail and he is yet to meet his bail conditions. If he meets his bail conditions today, I can assure you that the ICPC will let him go. So we are not keeping him,” Odey said.
He maintained that the matter is purely legal and should not be viewed through a political lens.
“The ICPC does not play politics. The law setting up the ICPC is very clear. The reason we have El-Rufai with us is because there were allegations made against him, charges referred against him. He has been arraigned in court. He is undergoing trial, so he is a defendant in those matters. It is strictly a judicial matter. It has nothing to do with politics,” he said.
On his health, he added, “El-Rufai is the custody of the ICPC and he is in good health. ”
The Commission was responding to a viral Hausa-language video in which a woman claiming to be El-Rufai’s wife alleged that officials blocked her from delivering food to him and violated a court order granting family access.
ICPC described the claims as false, stating that its visitation policy allows access only between 9am and 6:30pm, and insisted the rules had been consistently applied.
It also said records showed that family members had visited the former governor multiple times on the same day and that meals had already been delivered earlier.
The agency further disclosed that El-Rufai had been escorted to medical appointments during the week, adding that he also has access to an in-house medical facility.
According to the Commission, stricter security measures are in place due to his status as a high-profile politically exposed person, and it warned against attempts to misrepresent its procedures.
