Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A political dispute has erupted on Nigerian social media following a statement issued by Bello El-Rufai, the lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, concerning an ongoing anti-corruption investigation involving his father, former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. The exchange escalated after activist and public commentator Comrade Steven Kefas responded with a sharply worded message accusing the former governor of serious wrongdoing and predicting prolonged detention.
The controversy stems from allegations made by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which recently conducted a search of Nasir El-Rufai’s residence in Abuja as part of an investigation into alleged financial improprieties and other potential offences connected to his tenure as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023. Court documents filed by the anti-graft agency claimed that investigators recovered electronic magnetic equipment allegedly capable of intercepting telephone communications, along with documents described as sensitive security materials during the operation.
According to filings presented before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, ICPC investigators asserted that the devices recovered could potentially be used to tap telephone conversations. The commission also referenced a previous television interview in which El-Rufai reportedly acknowledged listening to a telephone conversation involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Investigators further alleged that the former governor declined to grant consent for the commission to examine certain devices recovered during the search.
The ICPC raid took place on February 19, 2026, at El-Rufai’s residence located on Mambila Street in the Asokoro district of Abuja. Officials said the search was conducted under a warrant obtained from a magistrate court. During the operation, the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, and their son, Bello El-Rufai, was documented by investigators as part of the legal process.
Following the raid and subsequent public disclosures, Bello El-Rufai released a statement on social media on behalf of the family, strongly rejecting the allegations made by the anti-corruption agency. In the statement, the lawmaker described the ICPC’s claims as false and politically motivated, accusing the commission of conducting what he characterised as a smear campaign against his father. He insisted that the items seized during the search consisted only of ordinary personal electronic devices such as old mobile phones, laptops and flash drives, rather than sophisticated surveillance equipment.
The lawmaker also defended his father’s decision not to respond to questions from investigators during earlier interactions with law enforcement officials. According to the family’s statement, the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent when confronted with allegations, and exercising that right should not be interpreted as non-cooperation. The statement further challenged authorities to file formal charges in court if they possess credible evidence of wrongdoing.
“Our father has consistently said to investigators: charge me if you have anything against me,” the family statement said, adding that El-Rufai had been under investigation for more than two years without any formal prosecution. The family also claimed that the search warrant used in the raid was defective and possibly fraudulently obtained, arguing that any evidence gathered during the search would be inadmissible in court if the warrant were proven invalid.
In addition to contesting the allegations, El-Rufai has reportedly filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit seeking damages of ₦1 billion, accusing the authorities of violating his constitutional rights to dignity, liberty, privacy and fair hearing. The lawsuit names several government institutions and officials as respondents and asks the court to declare the search and seizure unlawful.
The family’s statement quickly sparked reactions across social media platforms, including from activist Steven Kefas, who publicly criticised Bello El-Rufai’s defence of his father. In a post directed at the lawmaker, Kefas asserted that blocking critics online would not affect the legal process surrounding the investigation.
“Your father will be in detention for a long time, Bello,” Kefas wrote in his response. “Blocking me on the blue app will not change that fact.”
Kefas went further by invoking controversies associated with Nasir El-Rufai’s years in power as governor of Kaduna State, a period that saw political tensions, security crises and allegations from critics concerning governance decisions and security operations within the state. In his message, the activist also referenced claims related to violence that occurred during the former governor’s administration.
“As long as God lives, the blood of all those whose murder your father supervised and gloated over will continue to cry for vengeance,” Kefas wrote, adding that justice would eventually prevail.
The exchange between the activist and the lawmaker highlights the deeply polarised public reaction surrounding the investigation into El-Rufai. Supporters of the former governor argue that the allegations against him are politically motivated, pointing to his recent involvement with opposition political forces and his criticism of the current administration. Critics, however, maintain that the investigation represents a legitimate attempt by anti-corruption authorities to examine allegations linked to financial management and governance decisions made during his time in office.
Legal experts note that the dispute ultimately rests on the evidence presented in court. While anti-corruption agencies are empowered under Nigerian law to investigate suspected corruption and abuse of office, the burden of proof remains with prosecutors if charges are filed. Any determination regarding the legality of the search warrant, the authenticity of seized materials or the validity of the allegations will be resolved through judicial proceedings.
As of now, the ICPC investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet announced formal criminal charges against the former governor. Meanwhile, the heated public debate triggered by the case continues to unfold across political circles, legal forums and social media platforms, reflecting the broader national conversation about accountability, governance and the rule of law in Nigeria.
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