The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has denied a claim by Muyiwa Adekeye, a media aide to Nasir el-Rufa’i, former governor of Kaduna State, that the latter suffered nosebleeds overnight in its custody.
Recall that el-Rufa’i has been detained by the ICPC since February 18 after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) where he spent two nights.
Adekeye, in a statement yesterday, said El-Rufa’i’s legal team had not been shown any remand order authorising his continued detention in ICPC’s custody beyond 48 hours without charge. He added that el-Rufai’s legal team and family were “having difficulties in securing access to him in detention”.
“One of his wives was not allowed to deliver his meal directly to him on the evening of 17th February, but was asked to pass it to him through one of the Commission’s personnel. His lawyers have reported that he suffered an overnight episode of bleeding from his nose”, Adekeye said.
However, the ICPC yesterday said that Adekeye’s claim was a lie. According to the spokesperson for the ICPC Okor Odey, “The allegation that he (el-Rufa’i) bled from his nose yesterday while in the custody of the ICPC is not true, please”.
The ICPC and the EFCC are probing el-Rufa’i over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted el-Rufa’i in 2024 over alleged diversion of ₦432 billion in public funds and money laundering, and recommended his prosecution.
The Department of State Service (DSS) would arraign the former governor this week over his claim on national television that he listens to the conversations of the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, after tapping his phone.
Meanwhile, Adekeye, in his issued statement yesterday, said the FCT High Court would hear el-Rufa’i’s fundamental rights enforcement suit against the federal government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the DSS.
