Prosper Okoye
The Abuja home of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai was searched on Thursday by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as a string of investigations and arrests tightened around the outspoken politician.
His media adviser said investigators arrived at about 14:00 local time and began searching the property, while his lawyer described the move as unlawful and a breach of due process.
The search came amid overlapping actions by multiple agencies. Earlier in the week, El-Rufai had been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations linked to a reported ₦432 billion corruption probe stemming from a Kaduna State House of Assembly inquiry into his time in office between 2015 and 2023.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe was later granted bail on Monday evening. But shortly after his release, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) re-arrested him at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, according to witnesses, in a move that underscored the intensity of the case against him.
The DSS action is tied to separate allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Prosecutors have already filed charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, citing provisions of the Cybercrimes Act and the Nigerian Communications Act.
The charges followed remarks El-Rufai made during a televised interview, in which he suggested he had knowledge of conversations involving the security adviser. Authorities say the comments amount to an admission of unlawful interception and a threat to national security. No date has yet been fixed for his arraignment.
The unfolding situation began days earlier when security operatives attempted to detain him at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shortly after his return from Cairo. The incident led to a brief confrontation, with El-Rufai insisting that officials failed to present any formal warrant.
In response, his lawyer condemned the attempted arrest as arbitrary and unconstitutional.
El-Rufai, who was a strong supporter of President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, has since become a defiant critic after being denied a ministerial appointment by the Senate. A senior figure in the African Democratic Congress, he has denied any wrongdoing and described the investigations as politically motivated.
The developments have triggered protests in Abuja and Kaduna, with some groups demanding accountability over the corruption allegations, while supporters insist he is being targeted unfairly.
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President Tinubu has not publicly commented on the allegations against El-Rufai or the unfolding developments. However, he recently praised the work of National Security Adviser Ribadu, days after El-Rufai criticised him in a series of media appearances.
With investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services now converging, the case represents one of the most complex legal and political confrontations involving a former state governor in Nigeria in recent years. Whether it results in prosecution or is dismissed as political pressure will likely be determined in court.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
