No breach of court order, ICPC rejects claims of denied access to El-Rufai

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dismissed allegations circulating in the media that it violated a court order or denied a defendant access to food and family members, insisting that its Access Control Protocol remains lawful, humane, and consistently applied.

The clarification was made on Monday, during a media briefing in Abuja by John  Odey, Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Communications of the Commission.

The Commission said it was responding to a widely circulated Hausa-language video interview published on Friday night in which a woman, identifying herself as the wife of a defendant in ICPC custody, alleged that operatives refused her entry at about 7:00 pm to deliver food.

She also claimed the Commission violated a court order allegedly granting family access and that her husband was being denied meals.

ICPC, however, described the claims as false and misleading, insisting that its procedures are clearly defined and communicated to all visitors.

According to the agency, its Access Control Protocol, which regulates entry into its headquarters between 9:00 am and 6:30 pm, predates the current leadership and applies uniformly to all visitors, including families of persons in custody.

The Commission stressed that the system is not arbitrary but designed to ensure order, security, and accountability within its premises.

It added that families of detainees, including those involved in the recent incident, were informed of the protocol and have largely complied with it.

ICPC further stated that contrary to the allegations, the defendant’s family had access to deliver food earlier in the day.

It said records from its visitor register showed that one of the defendant’s wives and a housemaid were allowed entry on multiple occasions between 10:30 am and 5:30 pm, with documented entries reflecting approved visits and deliveries.

The Commission maintained that authorised persons, including relatives, lawyers, and medical practitioners, are permitted to visit detainees within approved hours, but entry after 6:30 pm is strictly prohibited.

It also noted that the woman in the video arrived at approximately 7:00 pm, which was outside the permitted timeframe.

Responding to claims that it violated a court order on family access and denied food to the defendant, ICPC said the allegations were inconsistent with recorded evidence, adding that the woman herself acknowledged in the video that she had delivered breakfast and lunch earlier that same day.

The Commission identified the defendant as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, describing him as a high-profile politically exposed person requiring heightened security management while in custody.

ICPC said the security measures applied in his case were standard procedures for individuals of similar profile and do not constitute special treatment or punitive restriction.

On claims that medical personnel were denied access, the Commission said the issue was one of procedure rather than denial, explaining that proper identification and confirmation from the defendant are required before such access is granted under supervision.

It added that El-Rufai had, in the week preceding the incident, been granted permission to attend medical appointments with his dentist and eye doctor, with ICPC officials providing escort as required.

The Commission also noted that he continues to have access to in-house medical services when necessary.

ICPC expressed concern that the visit in question was accompanied by media personnel and occurred outside approved visiting hours, describing the situation as an attempt to create a sensational narrative around standard institutional procedures.

It stressed that it would not compromise its security protocols or allow operational rules to be circumvented through public pressure or media dramatization.

Reaffirming its position, ICPC said its Access Control Protocol exists to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of all persons in its custody while ensuring institutional order.

The agency stated that it remains committed to the rule of law and equal application of procedures, regardless of status or political affiliation, under the leadership of Musa Adamu Aliyu, its Chairman.

The Commission urged the public and media outlets to rely on verified information rather than narratives it described as misleading or selectively presented.