The African Democratic Congress on Friday accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of obstructing access to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following a failed attempt by senior leaders of the party to visit him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The party also alleged that security operatives deployed heavily armed policemen to the premises during the visit, describing the action as intimidation targeted at opposition figures.
The delegation, which included former Osun State Governor and ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi and Secretary of the party’s Policy and Manifesto Committee, Salihu Lukman, said they were denied access to El-Rufai despite prior communication with the anti-graft agency.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, Abdullahi said the ADC had formally written to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, requesting visitation rights amid concerns over the wellbeing of the former governor.
He said, “Earlier today, alongside the National Secretary of our party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Mallam Salihu Lukman, we visited the headquarters of the ICPC in Abuja to see Mallam El-Rufai. Despite prior communication and formal requests, we were denied access without any reasonable explanation.”
The ADC further alleged that the atmosphere at the ICPC headquarters became tense shortly after the party leaders arrived, claiming that three truckloads of armed police officers were deployed to the facility.
The statement read, “The heavy deployment, which appeared entirely unnecessary and disproportionate to the peaceful presence of unarmed political leaders, created the unmistakable impression that the authorities feared that the mere presence of opposition leaders at the Commission could trigger public outrage.”
The party argued that the deployment reinforced fears that state institutions were being used to harass opposition politicians.
“It is deeply troubling 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,” the statement added.
The ADC’s protest comes amid growing political tension surrounding El-Rufai’s detention and the circumstances leading to his invitation by the anti-corruption agency.
Although details of the investigation have not been fully disclosed publicly by the ICPC, the former Kaduna governor has in recent months emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has also become increasingly active within opposition politics following his alignment with the ADC ahead of the 2027 political cycle.
The ADC statement referenced allegations earlier made by El-Rufai’s wife, Asia El-Rufai, who reportedly claimed that her husband was denied access to his doctor and prevented from receiving food while in custody.
The party said family members had also complained that even court-approved medical access was being delayed through “administrative obstruction and arbitrary protocols.”
While the ICPC has reportedly denied the allegations and maintained that due process was being followed, the ADC insisted that continued restrictions on access to El-Rufai were fuelling public suspicion.
“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,” the statement read.
The opposition party accused the authorities of engaging in what it described as “punishment by process” and warned that the continued treatment of El-Rufai could deepen concerns over the use of anti-corruption institutions for political purposes.
“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 world is watching,” Abdullahi stated.
The party subsequently demanded that the ICPC grant El-Rufai unrestricted access to his family, lawyers, doctors and political associates.
“Anything short of this will only reinforce public perception that state institutions are being weaponised against opposition voices,” the statement added.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official response to the ADC’s latest allegations.
