The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has explained why it denied senior African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders access to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in its custody, insisting the decision was procedural and not political.
The clarification came after the ADC accused the ICPC of intimidation on Friday, when its delegation led by former Osun State Governor and ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola was barred from meeting Mr El-Rufai at the commission’s Abuja headquarters.
In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday, the ADC said the party had formally notified the ICPC of the visit but was “denied access without any reasonable explanation.” The delegation also included Mr Abdullahi and Salihu Lukman, Secretary of the ADC Policy and Manifesto Committee.
The party said tension escalated when “no fewer than three truckloads of armed police officers” arrived at the facility while its leaders waited. It described the deployment as “unnecessary and disproportionate to the peaceful presence of unarmed opposition leaders,” adding that it created an “unmistakable impression” that authorities feared public outrage.
