El-Rufai's Full Statements Released During ICPC Detention

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has labeled the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the "only surviving opposition political party" in Nigeria. This statement emerged from one of two written records he prepared in February while detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He is under investigation regarding several corruption allegations linked to his governorship from 2015 to 2023.

El-Rufai, positioning himself as a victim of political persecution, asserted that the investigation is prompted by his affiliation with the ADC. Last year, he transitioned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ADC, following a fallout with President Bola Tinubu after a failed attempt to secure a ministerial appointment in Tinubu's cabinet in 2023.

He has been in custody since February 19, after being released from a prior detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16. El-Rufai is also facing prosecution from the State Security Service (SSS) for alleging he tapped the phone of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. As of the latest report, he remains in ICPC custody.

According to PREMIUM TIMES, in his statements dated February 19 and 20 written during his time in custody, El-Rufai declined to address the charges against him, instead requesting that the prosecutors take their allegations to court for formal proceedings.

These statements were included in the ICPC’s counter-affidavit to challenge El-Rufai's claim of wrongful treatment, including a N1 billion lawsuit he filed against the ICPC in response to a raid on his Abuja residence conducted on February 5 by ICPC agents accompanied by police.

El-Rufai’s first written statement from ICPC custody on February 19 reads:

"I have read the above cautionary statement and I understand its meaning and implication. I wish to voluntarily state, in the presence of my lawyer, Ubong Akpan, Esq., from the chambers of Ubong Akpan. My name is Nasir Ahmad El- Rufai. I was born in Dandawa, Katsina State, in 1960, and grew up mostly in Kaduna State.

I attended school in Kaduna, and went to Ahmadu Bello University for my first degree in Quantity Surveying. I also attended Harvard University and the University of London, focusing on Business Administration, Public Administration, and Law. My career encompasses roles in quantity surveying consultancy, mobile telecommunications, and public service. I served as Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (1999–2003), Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2003–2007), and was elected Governor of Kaduna State twice (2015–2023). I am now retired, residing primarily in Egypt with my 96-year-old mother and part of my family.

I am a senior member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the only remaining opposition party in Nigeria, which I believe is the actual reason for this investigation against me.

In response to all questions posed to me, I have chosen, upon legal counsel's advice, to exercise my right to silence. I will not provide any additional statements or answer any inquiries. I believe that the ICPC should present its findings to a judicial tribunal after a thorough two-year investigation rather than to me. My responses to any allegations will be made only in a court of law.

This stems from my belief that the investigations do not constitute lawful entitlement, viewed instead as political harassment, which is a matter strictly for the judges to resolve. Thank you."

Further elaborating in his second statement on February 20, he reiterated:

"Following my statement dated February 19, 2026, and alongside my lawyer Ubong E. Akpan present, I wish to reiterate my right to silence regarding any further documents and queries. As emphasized in my previous statement of February 19, I will only address these documents and inquiries when they are presented in a court setting.