El-Rufai's Family Rejects ICPC Claims, Denies Discovery of Wiretapping Equipment in Abuja Home

 The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has strongly refuted allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that sophisticated wiretapping devices and sensitive security documents were recovered during a search of his residence in Abuja.

In a statement released on Monday, March 2, 2026, the family speaking through El-Rufai's son, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives described the ICPC's assertions as "falsehoods," a "blatant lie," and part of a "malicious smear campaign" aimed at damaging the former governor's reputation through media rather than legal channels.

The controversy stems from a search conducted by ICPC operatives on February 19, 2026, at El-Rufai's home located at No. 12 Mambila Street, Aso Drive, Asokoro District, Abuja. The operation took place in the presence of El-Rufai's wife, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, and their son Mohammed Bello. According to affidavits filed by the ICPC before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, agents recovered "electronic magnetic equipment allegedly capable of tapping conversations" along with documents purportedly capable of compromising national security.

The commission further noted that El-Rufai had declined to provide consent for forensic examination of certain seized devices, opting instead to remain silent pending court proceedings. ICPC officials have linked these claims to broader allegations involving phone interception, including a televised admission by El-Rufai regarding past tapping of conversations involving the National Security Adviser.

However, the family pushed back firmly, insisting that no such specialized surveillance gear was ever present or seized. "We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones some dating back as much as 20 years storage devices like flash drives, and laptops, which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen, were removed from the property," the statement read.

Mohammed Bello El-Rufai went further, labeling the ICPC's court-submitted list of items as a "work of fiction" and accusing the agency of engaging in a "circus of chicanery" instead of adhering to due process. The family highlighted what they called credible evidence that the search warrant itself was defective, possibly forged, and fraudulently procured, with a magistrate allegedly overstepping authority by issuing it in a manner that purported to represent the High Court.

Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, who was at the residence during the raid, added her voice in a post on X, stating bluntly: "I was there. No such equipment was found. They lie. But why? An agency with no credibility at all."

This rebuttal comes amid an ongoing legal battle. El-Rufai has filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC, the Inspector General of Police, and other officials, challenging the February search as unlawful and invasive. He alleges the warrant was riddled with errors and that personal items were taken without proper inventory or return.

The family has threatened further legal action over what they describe as defamatory statements, emphasizing their commitment to defending El-Rufai's constitutional right to silence and calling for an end to what they view as politically motivated persecution. They urged the public to disregard the claims and allow the courts to handle the matter impartially.

The ICPC has defended its actions as following due process, based on petitions alleging corrupt practices, and maintains that the recovered items support its investigation. No official response from the commission to the family's latest denial has been issued as of the time of this report.