Lawyers representing former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of circulating unverified allegations linking their client to multi-billion-naira properties in Egypt, calling the claims politically motivated.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, counsel Ubong Esop Akpan said the allegations relied on anonymous “leaks” and lacked credible evidence.
The lawyer further argued that the claims were being used to legitimize what he described as the unlawful detention of the former governor.
The counsel described the ICPC claim as “a fabricated narrative, devoid of verifiable evidence and reliant on shadowy ‘sources,’” adding that it is not an investigation but a desperate smear campaign designed to justify the ongoing unlawful detention of a citizen who has committed no crime.
“It exemplifies the ICPC’s transformation from an anti-corruption agency into a criminal enterprise, perpetrating prosecutorial misconduct, hostage-taking, and violations of fundamental rights in pursuit of a failed agenda of political persecution”.
Akpan said El-Rufai had voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, where he was granted administrative bail before being taken into custody two days later by operatives allegedly acting under the direction of the Department of State Services (DSS).