Bello El-Rufai Addresses Seizures from Father's Home by ICPC

Bello Mohammed El-Rufai, the son of the former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has shared his views on the items confiscated during a raid by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at his father's residence.

In a press statement issued on Monday, Bello criticized the ICPC, labeling its conduct as regrettable and describing it as a “circus of chicanery.”

He accused the commission of trying to exploit his father's silence against him.

Nasir El-Rufai has been held by the ICPC since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) released him on bail on February 18, 2026, after a round of questioning regarding allegations of financial impropriety during his tenure as governor.

Bello also asserted that the family possesses credible proof indicating that the warrant for the investigation was forged and obtained through fraudulent means.

He noted that during the ICPC's operation at his father's Abuja home, the items confiscated were largely “old discarded personal mobile phones, some dating back two decades, along with standard digital devices like flash drives and laptops,” which he claims are typical possessions in the modern age. He contended that the investigation's entire premise is flawed.

The statement further claims, “The ICPC’s press release provided a list of seized items that appear crafted to imply acts of espionage and criminality. This list is fictional and the reasons for its fabrication will soon be revealed.”

Key points from their statement included:

a) The list of items has not been authenticated by Nasir El-Rufai or his attorneys. b) The El-Rufai family was present during the seizure. Only outdated personal mobile phones, along with standard electronic devices, were taken; claims of “advanced tapping equipment” and “sensitive security documents” are purely fabrications from the ICPC's press office.

They stated, “The foundations of this investigation are unsound. The search allegedly revealing these nonexistent items was based on a warrant that was invalid ab initio. We have credible evidence proving that the warrant was a forgery, fraudulently issued by a Magistrate improperly claiming authority as a High Court judge. Such an egregious illegal act at the start of a state- sponsored search renders all resulting evidence inadmissible. Our legal team is contesting this defective warrant in a competent court, and we invite the ICPC to clarify how a Magistrate assumed High Court powers to endorse a warrant grounded on falsehoods.”

Continuing, he suggested that the ICPC’s public narrative reflected its own guilt, accusing them of committing forgeries and disseminating false documents, actions tantamount to criminality. He mentioned that the commission's behavior showcases a significant abuse of office and a complete lack of professionalism.

“We refuse to be judged in the court of public opinion by a discredited agency under political influence. Our lawyers are instructed to explore all legal avenues to contest the unlawful search, challenge the forged warrant, and address the defamatory statements made by the ICPC. We firmly believe the Nigerian judiciary will expose this sham and safeguard our family's rights against political overreach.”

Bello concluded by stating it would not be surprising if the ICPC attempted to manufacture evidence in their quest for notoriety, recalling how a court has already rebuked the ICPC on another matter involving false search warrants.