ICPC Asked Me To Stay Away From 2027 Politics Before Release – Ex-Governor El-Rufai Tells Court | Sahara Reporters

- Former Governor of Kaduna State and minister of Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related affairs Commission, ICPC, of attempting to coerce him into abandoning politics as a condition for his release from detention.

The explosive allegation is contained in a 30-page criminal complaint filed before the court, in which El-Rufai directly fingers ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, and four other officials.

El- Rufai claimed in Paragraph 12 of the filing, that operatives of the anti-corruption agency told him bluntly that his freedom depended on his willingness to quit political activities, pointing out that, while in detention, ICPC officers — allegedly acting on the authority of the commission’s leadership — made it clear that disengaging from politics was the price for his release.

Further revelations in the supporting affidavit, particularly in Paragraphs 22 to 24, allege that El-Rufai was repeatedly warned that persisting in political involvement would keep him behind bars, while a commitment to withdraw would secure his freedom.

The allegation now forms the crux of Count Six in the suit, where the embattled politician accuses the officials of wrongful confinement with intent to compel — an offence punishable under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code.

El-Rufai is urging the court to probe what he describes as a brazen abuse of power and a calculated attempt to strip him of his constitutional right to participate in Nigeria’s political process.

As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC has yet to issue any official response to the damning allegations

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja last week adjourned a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by El‑Rufai, against the ICPC until March 25, 2026.

The case was adjourned on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to allow parties in the matter to regularise their processes.

El-Rufai is seeking N1 billion in damages in the suit filed against the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Federal Ministry of Justice (Nigeria), listed as the first to fourth respondents respectively.

Counsel to El- Rufai, Ubong Akpan, informed the court, when the matter came up, that the case was scheduled for hearing but said the legal team had only just filed a response to the counter-affidavit submitted by the ICPC and had yet to reply to that of the police.

Following the confirmation of submission by lawyers representing the ICPC and the police, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until March 25 for hearing and directed that hearing notices be issued and served on the second respondent, the Chief Magistrate, and the fourth respondent, the Attorney-General of the Federation, who were not represented in court.

El-Rufai, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, is asking the court to declare that the invasion and search of his Abuja residence by ICPC operatives and police officers violated his fundamental rights.

The former governor alleged that the officials stormed his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 at about 2 p.m., describing the action as a breach of his rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing and privacy as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution.

He is also seeking a declaration that any evidence obtained during the search should be declared inadmissible in any proceedings against him because it was allegedly obtained in violation of constitutional safeguards. Among other reliefs, El-Rufai asked the court to restrain the respondents from using any items or evidence seized during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.

He further requested an order directing the ICPC and the police to immediately return all items allegedly taken from his residence and provide a detailed inventory of the materials.

In addition, the former governor is demanding N1billion as general, exemplary and aggravated damages over the incident.