By Abiola Olawale
The legal battle surrounding former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has intensified as his counsel, Ubong Esop Akpan, formally dismissed recent claims by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding multi-billion-naira properties allegedly linked to the former in Egypt.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, March 9, 2026, Akpan characterized the allegations as a “fabricated narrative” and a “smear campaign” designed to justify what he described as the unlawful and prolonged detention of the former governor.
The controversy erupted following media reports suggesting that the ICPC had traced several high-end assets to El-Rufai in Cairo, including three luxury villas in highbrow estates like Arabilla and Banafsik, six apartments located in the exclusive Cairo Festival City.
Responding to these allegations, Akpan argued that the commission has failed to provide verifiable evidence, relying instead on anonymous sources to prejudice public opinion.
The lawyer argued that the claims were being circulated to justify what he described as the unlawful detention of the former governor.
The counsel described the ICPC claim as “a fabricated narrative, devoid of verifiable evidence and reliant on shadowy ‘sources,’” adding that it is not an investigation but a desperate smear campaign designed to justify the ongoing unlawful detention of a citizen who has committed no crime.
“It exemplifies the ICPC’s transformation from an anti-corruption agency into a criminal enterprise, perpetrating prosecutorial misconduct, hostage-taking, and violations of fundamental rights in pursuit of a failed agenda of political persecution”.
Akpan said El-Rufai had voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, where he was granted administrative bail before being taken into custody two days later by operatives allegedly acting under the direction of the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the statement, El-Rufai has remained in detention since February 18 without being formally charged in court.
The lawyer argued that the detention violates Section 35 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty and requires suspects to be brought before a court within a reasonable time.
He also challenged the validity of a remand order reportedly issued on February 19, claiming it expired on March 4 and was never served on the defence team.
Akpan further alleged that ICPC officials, including its Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, attempted to pressure the former governor to abandon political activities in exchange for his release.
Part of the statement reads: “The ICPC’s resort to anonymous media plants, rather than judicial process, betrays their fear of scrutiny and underscores their complicity in forgery (Section 363) and using forged documents (Section 364) to perpetuate this injustice.
“We have initiated criminal complaint proceedings against the Chairman, the DSS Director General, and other implicated officers, seeking their personal accountability for these crimes.
“The ICPC cannot operate as both accuser and incarcerator, detaining citizens indefinitely without due process while peddling falsehoods to deflect from their own criminality. We demand the immediate release of Mallam El-Rufai or his arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction”.
