You can’t visit El-Rufai’ — ICPC chairman tells ADC leaders

‘You can’t visit El-Rufai’ — ICPC chairman tells ADC leaders

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has explained why leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, were denied access to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently in its custody.

The National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, and the Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee, Salihu Lukman, were reportedly denied access to Mr El-Rufai on Friday.

In a statement issued after the failed visit, the ADC said it had earlier written to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu-Aliyu, requesting permission to visit the former governor.

The party said the request followed concerns raised by Mr El-Rufai’s family over the alleged denial of access to doctors and food.

However, in a letter addressed to Mr Aregbesola, the ICPC said granting the request would violate existing court orders.

The letter, signed on behalf of the ICPC chairman by the commission’s Director of Operations, S. Yahaya, stated that Mr El-Rufai was currently facing trial before the Kaduna State High Court and the Federal High Court, both sitting in Kaduna State.

“Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is standing trial before two courts, namely the State High Court of Justice Kaduna and the Federal High Court of Nigeria, both sitting in Kaduna State,” the letter read.

It added that although the former governor remained in the custody of the commission by order of the courts, only his family members, doctors and legal counsel had been granted access to him.

“Though the defendant is in the commission’s custody by order of both courts, the court is fully seized of the matter.

“The court has granted access to the defendant to his family, doctors and counsels. These are the only category of persons granted access to see the defendant in the Commission’s custody.

“Consequently, the application cannot be granted,” the letter added.