ADC Accuses ICPC Of Blocking El-Rufai Access

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of intimidation and political persecution following the alleged denial of access to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

The party claimed that a delegation comprising its national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi and secretary of the policy and manifesto committee, Salihu Lukman, was prevented from seeing El-Rufai during a visit to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja yesterday.

In a statement issued by Abdullahi, the opposition party alleged that tension heightened at the commission’s premises after “three truckloads of armed police officers” arrived while the delegation awaited a response to its request for access.

According to the ADC, the deployment of security personnel was unnecessary and created the impression that authorities were attempting to intimidate opposition figures.

The party further alleged that it had earlier written to ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, requesting visitation rights for El-Rufai amid concerns raised by his family over alleged restrictions on access to medical care and food.

“Such actions only reinforce growing public concern that state institutions are increasingly being used, not merely for law enforcement, but as instruments of political pressure and psychological intimidation against dissenting voices,” the statement said.

The ADC also referenced recent allegations by El-Rufai’s wife, Asia El-Rufai, who reportedly claimed that her husband was denied access to his doctor and that she was prevented from delivering food to him while in custody.

The party, however, acknowledged that the ICPC had publicly denied the allegations and maintained that due process and access protocols were being followed.

Describing the former governor as “not a fugitive,” the ADC said El-Rufai voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities and was entitled under the Constitution to dignity, medical care, family access and fair treatment.

The opposition party warned that continued denial of access to El-Rufai by his family, lawyers, doctors and party leaders would deepen public suspicion and reinforce claims that state institutions were being used against opposition voices.

“The ADC will not stand by and watch one of its leaders subjected to this pattern of harassment and calculated humiliation. Nigeria is watching. The international community is watching,” the statement added.

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the ICPC were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.