Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) attempted to force him to withdraw from political activities as a precondition for his release from detention.
The allegation is contained in a 30-page criminal complaint filed before a court by El-Rufai against the ICPC chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, and four other officials of the anti-graft agency.
According to the filing, the former governor claimed that during his detention, ICPC officers informed him that he would only regain his freedom if he agreed to cease all political involvement.
The allegation appears in Paragraph 12 of the complaint, where El-Rufai asserted that officers acting on the authority of the commission’s chairman conveyed that his release depended on his withdrawal from politics.
He argued that such a demand amounted to coercion and an attempt to strip him of his constitutional rights to political participation.
Further details were provided in the affidavit accompanying the complaint, particularly in Paragraphs 22 to 24. In these sections, his legal counsel alleged that the former governor was repeatedly warned that continued political activity could prolong his detention.
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According to the affidavit, he was told that only a firm commitment to abandon politics would secure his release.
The claim forms the basis of Count Six in the complaint, which accuses the named officials of wrongful confinement with intent to compel — an offence cited under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code.
El-Rufai is asking the court to investigate the conduct of the ICPC officials, arguing that the alleged actions constitute abuse of office and an unlawful attempt to interfere with his political rights.
He contends that conditioning a detainee’s freedom on withdrawal from politics undermines democratic principles and due process.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC has not issued any public response to the allegations contained in the court documents.
The case is expected to attract significant political and legal attention, given El-Rufai’s prominence in national politics and the serious nature of the accusations against senior anti-corruption officials.