Egypt property: El-Rufai accuses ICPC of political persecution, demands immediate release

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of orchestrating a political campaign against him following reports linking him to alleged multi-billion naira properties in Egypt.

Reports emerged on Monday, March 9, 2026, that the ICPC traced six real estate assets in Egypt to El-Rufai.

All six assets — three villas and six apartments — are said to be located in highbrow estates and areas in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Reacting via a statement issued on Monday, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, described the allegations as fabricated and based on anonymous leaks rather than verifiable evidence.

Akpan alleged that the claims were part of a smear campaign aimed at justifying what he called the unlawful detention of the former governor.

The lawyer stated that El-Rufai has been held for more than 20 days without formal charges after he was transferred from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the ICPC.

Akpan said the former governor had voluntarily reported to the EFCC on February 16 and was granted administrative bail before being taken into custody by operatives acting under the direction of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Akpan argued that the continued detention violates Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty and requires suspects to be charged within a reasonable time.

The lawyer added that a 14-day remand order issued by a magistrate court had expired on March 4 and was never served on El-Rufai or his legal team.

El-Rufai family blasts ICPC over continued detention ex-gov

He also accused the ICPC of attempting to pressure El-Rufai to withdraw from political activities, adding that associates of the former governor had been detained to compel confessions.

Akpan, who called for the immediate release of El-Rufai or his arraignment before the court, said the former governor had repeatedly challenged the anti-graft agency to file charges in court if any evidence existed against him.

Akpan said: “The ICPC’s resort to anonymous media plants, rather than judicial process, betrays their fear of scrutiny and underscores their complicity in forgery (Section 363) and using forged documents (Section 364) to perpetuate this injustice.

“We have initiated criminal complaint proceedings against the Chairman, the DSS Director General, and other implicated officers, seeking their personal accountability for these crimes.

“The ICPC cannot operate as both accuser and incarcerator, detaining citizens indefinitely without due process while peddling falsehoods to deflect from their own criminality. We demand the immediate release of Mallam El-Rufai or his arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Anything less is a mortal blow to Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.”

The Star