Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has firmly defended its detention and prosecution of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, insisting that its actions are guided strictly by the law and are not politically motivated. The Commission's reaction followed an announcement by the El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) that it had engaged Vanguard Africa, a Washington DC-based international advocacy firm, to launch a campaign highlighting alleged abuses of due process and an erosion of the rule of law in Nigeria.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, dismissed the group’s lobbying efforts, stating that the anti-corruption agency remains completely unmoved and operates strictly within the confines of the law. “We are not moved. We operate within the confines of the law. The ICPC is not moved at all,” Odey said, as quoted by The Punch. He clarified that El-Rufai is not being held arbitrarily but is currently in custody under a lawful court remand order, a point the Commission has consistently maintained. “We are not detaining him on our own. We are following lawful orders. He is in our custody by court remand. So, we don’t have any issues with that,” he added.
Odey dismissed claims that the anti-graft agency was being used for political purposes, stating unequivocally: “No, we are not political. The ICPC is not political. It has never been and never will be. The ICPC is an anti-corruption law enforcement agency. We have an Act that guides our operations. If there are infractions that fall within our Act and we charge you to court, it doesn’t matter whether you are a clerk in a government agency, a private contractor who has contravened the laws, or a political figure. It is immaterial.” Odey’s comments came as the El-Rufai Support Group Association escalated its campaign against the former governor’s continued detention by taking the battle to Washington. In a statement, Mohammed Salihu, ERSGA’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, said the group had retained Vanguard Africa to engage officials of the US government, members of Congress, pro-democracy institutions and multilateral organisations as part of efforts to draw international attention to the case. “The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” Salihu said. “We are bringing these concerns to Washington because the international community has both the standing and the responsibility to speak plainly when due process is weaponised for political ends.”
ERSGA categorically rejected the allegations against El-Rufai and maintained his innocence, pointing to what it described as alarming procedural irregularities since his detention in mid-February. El-Rufai is currently facing prosecution by the ICPC over allegations of fraud, financial impropriety and abuse of office during his tenure as governor. He was indicted by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2024 over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, and was subsequently arraigned before a Kaduna High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on fraud and abuse of office. The former governor has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that he acted within the bounds of the law. In addition to the ICPC case, El-Rufai is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over allegations involving the wiretapping of communications belonging to the National Security Adviser. The ICPC has previously issued a statement clarifying the legal status of El-Rufai’s detention, noting that he remains in lawful custody under a remand order dated March 5, 2026, and that the Commission is strictly following the court-mandated timeline. The Commission has also maintained that it avoids media trials and insists that legal disputes should be settled in the courtroom, not in public discourse.
The ERSGA has warned that the use of legal mechanisms to sideline opposition figures could undermine free and credible democratic competition as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. The group called on the United States Government, international democratic institutions and civil society organisations to closely monitor developments in Nigeria and speak clearly in defence of due process, judicial independence, and the democratic space that free and fair elections require. The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, also weighed in on the matter, alleging that stringent bail conditions imposed on El-Rufai are delaying his release from ICPC custody, citing requirements that an emir and a senior government worker must sign his bail. As the legal battle continues, the ICPC has made it clear that it will not be swayed by international lobbying or political pressure, reaffirming its commitment to prosecuting the case in accordance with the law.
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