The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dismissed allegations that it prevented family members of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai from accessing him while in custody.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the commission’s Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, described the allegations as inaccurate and misleading.
According to Odey, El-Rufai’s wife arrived at the commission’s premises around 7:00 p.m., which was 30 minutes after the official closing time for visitors.
He explained that the ICPC’s Access Control Protocol permits visits only between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., adding that the policy applies uniformly to all detainees.
Odey said the rules had been in place long before the current administration of the commission and were well known to family members of suspects and defendants in custody.
The clarification followed a video interview circulated on Friday night in which a woman identifying herself as El-Rufai’s wife alleged that she was denied entry to deliver food to her husband.
She also claimed that the commission had ignored a court order permitting family access and was preventing him from receiving food.
However, the ICPC spokesperson said records showed that the woman and a housemaid had been granted access on at least three occasions earlier that same day.
He stated that the visits, which took place between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., were properly documented in the commission’s visitor register.
Odey added that the woman acknowledged in the interview that she had delivered breakfast and lunch to El-Rufai earlier in the day, contradicting allegations that he had been denied food.
The commission also clarified that medical personnel and legal representatives were allowed supervised access once proper identification and authorisation procedures were completed.
According to Odey, El-Rufai had recently been granted permission to visit both his dentist and eye doctor under official supervision.
He stressed that the ICPC was obligated to maintain heightened security measures because of El-Rufai’s status as a high-profile and politically exposed individual.
The spokesperson further criticised attempts to politicise or dramatise the matter, stating that the commission would not compromise its operational and security procedures.
Odey reaffirmed the commitment of the ICPC under Musa Aliyu to uphold the rule of law, human dignity and equal treatment for all individuals irrespective of social or political standing.
