ADC Decries Restricted Access to El-Rufai in ICPC Custody

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the restriction placed on access to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at the detention facility of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Abuja.

El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 19 over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration in Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.

The former governor was temporarily released on March 28 to attend his mother’s funeral.

Recall that the Kaduna State House of Assembly had, in 2024, accused El-Rufai of allegedly diverting N423 billion in public funds and engaging in money laundering, while calling on anti-corruption agencies to investigate him.

On April 13, 2026, the ICPC arraigned El-Rufai before a Kaduna High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.

Earlier on May 16, Mohammed Bello, son of the former governor, alleged that ICPC officials denied his father access to medical attention and family members while in detention.

However, ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, dismissed the allegation, describing it as “false and misleading”.

In a statement on Friday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said a party delegation led by Rauf Aregbesola and Salihu Lukman was also denied access to El-Rufai at the facility.

“Despite prior communication and formal requests, we were denied access without any reasonable explanation,” the statement reads.

“While we were at the premises awaiting a response to our request, the atmosphere suddenly became noticeably tense after no fewer than three truckloads of armed police officers arrived at the facility.”

Abdullahi noted that the “heavy deployment of policemen”, created the false impression that opposition leaders’ presence at the commission could trigger public outrage.

He expressed deep concerns that “a simple request by senior party officials to visit a detained colleague was met, not with professionalism, but with a show of force more suited to the suppression of civil unrest.”

“At no point did members of our delegation threaten disorder, incite confrontation, or mobilise supporters to the premises.

“Yet the response of the state suggested panic, fear, and an attempt to intimidate not only our party leaders, but also any Nigerian who may dare to question the treatment being meted out to opposition figures,” Abdullahi said.

He added that “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”.

Abdullahi said the ADC had previously written officially to ICPC chairman, Musa Aliyu, requesting visitation rights to El-Rufai, in light of growing public concerns regarding his well-being and reports of repeated restrictions on access to family members and medical personnel.

“Let it be clear: Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is not a fugitive. He voluntarily submitted himself to the authorities.

“Under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he is entitled to dignity, medical care, family access, and fair treatment under the law.

“What we are witnessing increasingly appears to be punishment by process, intimidation through isolation, and an attempt to break the spirit of a leading opposition figure.”

He said the party would not stand by and watch one of its leaders subjected to “this pattern of harassment and calculated humiliation”.

“The international community is watching. The world is watching.

“We therefore demand that the ICPC immediately grant unrestricted access to Mallam El-Rufai by his family, doctors, lawyers, and leaders of his political party.”

He added that anything short of granting the request would only reinforce public perception that state institutions are being weaponised against opposition voices.