The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has defended its decision to stop leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from visiting former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, saying the action was strictly based on a court order already in place.
Reacting to allegations by the ADC that its officials were harassed and denied access to the former Governor during a visit on Friday, the Commission said it acted within the limits of the law.
Speaking with PUNCH Online on Saturday, ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, disclosed that the Commission had earlier responded formally to the ADC after receiving a request seeking permission for Party leaders to see El-Rufai.
“Yes, we denied them. They wrote to us saying that they wanted to come and visit El-Rufai. They listed those people who came, Aregbesola, Abolaji Abdullahi and others.
“We got their letter on the 20th or thereabouts and replied to them on the 21st that they should not come because the court order was specific,” Odey said.
According to him, the court only approved access to El-Rufai’s immediate family members, legal representatives and medical doctors.
“The access is limited to the category of his immediate family members, his legal counsel and his medical doctors. Based on the court order, under the circumstances, we are not able to grant them their request to visit,” he stated.
Odey further maintained that the ADC was duly informed before arriving at the Commission’s headquarters.
“The letter was given to them, and it was stamped that they received it.
“But there is evidence that ADC received the letter. The fact remains that ADC is a political association and does not fall under the category that the court ordered us to grant access,” he added.
The ICPC also dismissed claims that ADC leaders were intimidated by security personnel stationed at the premises.
“No, no, no. They were not harassed. No harassment whatsoever. They were not intimidated,” Odey insisted.
He explained that the armed policemen seen at the entrance of the Commission’s headquarters were part of routine security arrangements already in place.
“Usually, you know that we have a detachment of mobile policemen at the gate all the time. Sometimes you see their trucks parked there. Those are the things they saw that they said we brought three trailers of police,” he explained.
The anti-graft agency stressed that it would continue to obey the court order restricting access to the former Governor.
“We will not allow them. The court was specific, saying that the category of persons allowed by the court is his immediate family, his lawyers and his doctors. Anybody outside that category, we do not have the authority of the court to grant access,” Odey said.
He also insisted that the Commission remains apolitical and is only acting in compliance with the law while ensuring El-Rufai’s safety in custody.
“We are apolitical. We did not bring policemen to intimidate them. The police officers have always been there,” he added.
The ADC had earlier accused the ICPC of obstructing access to El-Rufai after some senior Party leaders were prevented from seeing him at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Party also alleged that heavily armed policemen were deployed to the premises during the visit, describing the move as an attempt to intimidate opposition figures.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the Party had formally written to ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, requesting visitation rights over concerns about El-Rufai’s well-being.
El-Rufai is currently facing trial on nine amended charges linked to alleged violations of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, the Kaduna State Penal Code 2017 and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law 2017.
The former Kaduna State Governor has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
