The embattled 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 abandon political activities as a condition for his release from detention.
The allegation is contained in a 30-page criminal complaint filed by El-Rufai before a court against the ICPC chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, and four other officials of the anti-corruption agency.
According to the filing, the former governor claimed that during his detention, officers of the commission told him he would only be freed if he stopped taking part in politics.
The claim is outlined in Paragraph 12 of the complaint, where El-Rufai alleged that ICPC operatives, reportedly acting on the authority of the commission’s chairman, informed him that his release depended on his agreement to cease all political involvement.
He argued that the demand amounted to an attempt to force him to relinquish his constitutional rights.
Further details were provided in the affidavit supporting the complaint, particularly in Paragraphs 22 to 24, where his counsel stated that El-Rufai was repeatedly warned that continued political activity could extend his detention and that pledging to withdraw from politics was the only way to regain his freedom.
The allegation forms the basis of Count Six in the complaint, which accuses the officials of wrongful confinement with intent to compel, an offense cited under Sections 264 and 267 of the Penal Code.
El-Rufai is urging the court to scrutinize the conduct of the ICPC officials, arguing that the alleged actions constitute an abuse of office and an unlawful attempt to limit his participation in the political process.
The ICPC has yet to publicly respond to the allegations contained in the court filing.
