ICPC forcing me to cease from all political activities – El-Rufai claims
Former Kaduna Governor Accuses ICPC of Coercion
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that officials from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) attempted to force him to cease political activities as a condition for his release from detention.
These allegations are part of a 30-page criminal complaint filed by El-Rufai in court against ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu and four other agency officials.
In the complaint, El-Rufai states that while in detention, he was informed by ICPC officers that releasing him would be contingent upon his withdrawal from political engagement. This assertion is specifically mentioned in Paragraph 12 of the filing, where El-Rufai claims that the officers, allegedly acting under the direction of the commission’s chairman, indicated that his freedom was dependent on stopping all political activities.
El-Rufai contends that such demands infringe upon his constitutional rights. Additional details about the allegations can be found in Paragraphs 22 to 24 of the affidavit supporting his complaint. His legal counsel noted that El-Rufai was repeatedly warned that his continued political involvement could extend his detention, and only a commitment to withdraw would ensure his release.
These claims constitute Count Six in the complaint, which charges the officials with wrongful confinement with intent to compel, an offense outlined in Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code. El-Rufai seeks court examination of the conduct of the ICPC officials, asserting that their actions represent an abuse of power and an infringement on his right to participate in the political process.
As of this report, the ICPC has not publicly addressed the allegations presented in El-Rufai’s court filing.
