Phone Tapping: El-Rufai Family Accuses ICPC Of Forgery

The family of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of fabricating allegations, forging official documents, and waging what it describes as a politically motivated smear campaign.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday and signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, Member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations, the family said it received with “contempt and amusement” the ICPC’s recent claims that phone-tapping equipment and other sensitive materials were recovered from a property linked to the former governor.

According to the statement, the ICPC had “descended into a circus of chicanery,” preferring media theatrics over adherence to the rule of law.

The family rejected the Commission’s assertion that Mallam el-Rufai had refused to cooperate, insisting that his decision to remain silent was a constitutional right and not evidence of wrongdoing.

They noted that the former governor has repeatedly challenged investigators to charge him to court if any credible evidence exists, adding that he has been under scrutiny for more than two years without any substantiated allegation emerging.

The family dismissed the ICPC’s published list of allegedly seized items as “a work of fiction,” insisting that they were physically present during the search and that only old mobile phones, laptops, and flash drives, some dating back nearly two decades, were taken.

They described the Commission’s reference to “sophisticated phone-tapping devices” as an invention designed to mislead the public and create an impression of espionage around the former governor.

More seriously, the family alleged that the search itself was founded on illegality, claiming that the warrant used by ICPC was forged.

They stated that the document was fraudulently signed by a Magistrate who, in an irregular twist, purported to sit as a High Court judge of the Federal Capital Territory. Their legal team has already approached a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge what they described as a “rotten foundation” that renders the entire search process void and inadmissible in law.

The El-Rufai family accused the ICPC of operating with a “credibility deficit” and engaging in projection by attributing to others the very misconduct it is allegedly committing.

They said the Commission’s actions amount to forgery, the uttering of false documents, abuse of office and the deliberate peddling of misinformation for political purposes.

According to the statement, the ICPC has become “an organization bereft of integrity,” resorting to manufacturing evidence to justify its operations and satisfy unnamed political interests.

The family maintained that it would not be drawn into a trial in the court of public opinion and expressed confidence that the judiciary would expose what it called a “shameful charade.” They reiterated their intention to pursue all legal remedies relating to the search, the alleged forged warrant, and the public statements made by ICPC officials.

The statement added that it would not be surprising if the ICPC produced more fabricated material, noting that a court had previously criticized the Commission for allegedly procuring fake warrants in another matter.

The statement emphasized the family’s resolve in defending their rights and reputation against what they view as an unlawful and politically driven campaign.