The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has defended the detention and prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that its actions are lawful and not politically motivated.
Naijaonpoint understands that the commission’s reaction followed the announcement by the El-Rufai Support Group Association that it had engaged Vanguard Africa, a Washington DC-based international advocacy firm, to lead a campaign over what it described as abuse of due process and erosion of the rule of law in Nigeria.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Wednesday, ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, said the commission was not disturbed by the group’s decision to seek international support.
Odey said El-Rufai was not being detained arbitrarily, stressing that his custody was based on a court remand order.
“We are not moved. We operate within the confines of the law. The ICPC is not moved at all,” he said.
“We operate within the confines of the law and will continue to carry out our functions within the confines of the law. We are not detaining him on our own. We are following lawful orders.
“He is in our custody by court remand. So, we don’t have any issues with that.
“It’s a free world, it’s a free society, but people must operate within the confines of the law.”
The ICPC spokesperson also dismissed claims that the anti-graft agency was being used for political purposes.
“No, we are not political. The ICPC is not political. It has never been and never will be,” he said.
“The ICPC is an anti-corruption law enforcement agency. We have an Act that guides our operations.
“If there are infractions that fall within our Act and we charge you to court, it doesn’t matter whether you are a clerk in a government agency, a private contractor who has contravened the laws, or a political figure. It is immaterial.
“We do not politicise our issues, nor do we prosecute on the basis of political affiliations. The ICPC is not a political party and does not have any political affiliations.”
Earlier, the El-Rufai Support Group Association announced that it had retained Vanguard Africa to coordinate international advocacy on the former governor’s case.
In a statement, the group said the Washington-based firm would engage officials of the United States government, members of Congress, pro-democracy institutions and multilateral stakeholders.
“Vanguard Africa will plan and execute outreach to U.S. Administration officials, Congress, relevant bureaus and agencies, pro-democracy institutions, and multilateral stakeholders on behalf of ERSGA, among other activities in the United States,” the statement read.
The group described El-Rufai as “an accomplished reformer and senior statesman with decades of public service,” while rejecting the allegations against him.
“ERSGA categorically rejects the ICPC accusations and maintains El-Rufai’s innocence, pointing to a series of alarming procedural irregularities,” it added.
Speaking on behalf of the association, Mohammed Salihu said the case raised concerns about the state of democratic institutions in Nigeria.
“The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” he said.
“We are bringing these concerns to Washington because the international community has both the standing and the responsibility to speak plainly when due process is weaponised for political ends.”
The association said it viewed the case as a test of the impartiality of Nigeria’s institutions as the 2027 general elections approach.
It warned that the use of legal mechanisms to sideline opposition figures could weaken democratic competition.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the ICPC over allegations of abuse of office, financial impropriety and fraud during his tenure as Kaduna State governor.
The former governor is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged wiretapping of communications involving the National Security Adviser.
