ICPC: TALE OF A PARTISAN AGENCY as El-Rufai’s Wife Reacts to Press Statement Issued by Bello El-Rufai

Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed allegations that phone-tapping equipment was discovered in their residence, describing the claims as false and misleading.

Her reaction followed a press statement issued by her son, Bello El-Rufai, in response to reports allegedly linking the former governor to the recovery of wiretapping devices by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Reacting to the development, Hadiza stated emphatically that no such equipment was found. “I was there. No such equipment was found. They lie. But why? An agency with no credibility at all,” she said, strongly refuting the allegation.

Earlier, Bello El-Rufai had broken his silence in a public statement, saying he had initially stayed off social media to focus on Ramadan, his family, and his legislative responsibilities to the people of Kaduna North. However, he said he was compelled to respond in order to counter what he described as a “blatant lie” published by a national newspaper, citing unnamed ICPC sources.

In the statement titled “ICPC’s Phantom Phone Tapping Equipment Allegations Against Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and the Constitutional Right to Silence”, the family accused the anti-corruption agency of engaging in what they termed a media trial rather than due process

The family described the allegations as part of a coordinated smear campaign and insisted that the claims lack factual basis. They further called for adherence to the rule of law, while urging Nigerians to pray for peace during the Ramadan period.

The ICPC is yet to publicly respond to the family’s latest rebuttal as at the time of filing this report.