The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has clarified why leaders of the African Democratic Congress were not allowed to visit former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, in its custody, citing a subsisting court order that limits access to detained persons.
The commission’s response followed accusations by the ADC that some of its top officials were prevented from meeting el-Rufai at the ICPC detention facility in Abuja on Friday.
The party also alleged that security personnel heavily surrounded the premises, creating an atmosphere of intimidation.
El-Rufai has remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency since February 19 over alleged financial misconduct connected to his administration as Kaduna State governor from 2015 to 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly reportedly indicted the former governor over the alleged misappropriation of N423 billion and suspected money laundering activities. The lawmakers subsequently urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate the matter.
The ICPC later arraigned el-Rufai before the Kaduna High Court on April 13, 2026, on an amended nine-count charge involving alleged fraud and abuse of office.
According to the ADC, a delegation led by former Osun State governor and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside Salihu Lukman, secretary of the ADC policy and manifesto committee, had informed the commission ahead of the planned visit but was still denied access.
The party further claimed that the situation escalated after multiple vehicles carrying armed police officers arrived at the facility.
Reacting to the allegations, ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the commission had already communicated its position to the ADC through an official letter dated May 21, 2026.
“We wrote them an official letter declining their request to visit. The reasons are in the letter. The category of persons we are to give access is clear in the court order,” Odey said.
The letter, signed by the commission’s Director of Operations, S. Yahaya, explained that el-Rufai’s case is currently before both the Kaduna State High Court and the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
“The court has granted access to the defendant to his family, doctors and counsel,” the letter stated.
“These are the only category of persons granted access to see the defendant in the Commission’s custody. Consequently, the application cannot be granted.”
The controversy emerged shortly after Mohammed Bello, son of the former governor, accused ICPC officials of denying his father adequate access to medical attention and family members despite a court directive permitting unrestricted access to his doctors.
However, the anti-corruption agency had earlier dismissed those allegations, describing them as “false and misleading.”
Odey also refuted claims that the ADC delegation was intimidated, maintaining that the deployment of police personnel at the commission’s headquarters was part of normal security procedures.
