The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed reports alleging that sophisticated phone-tapping devices and sensitive security documents were recovered during a recent raid on his Abuja residence.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed on behalf of his son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, who represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency, the family described the claims as false and politically motivated.
It insisted that no “sophisticated tapping equipment” was found during the search.
Some national dailies, including The Nation, had reported that the allegations were contained in a response filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to a Fundamental Human Rights suit instituted against the commission by El-Rufai.
According to affidavits reportedly filed by the ICPC before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, operatives recovered “electronic magnetic equipment capable of tapping conversations” and “sensitive security documents capable of compromising national security” during the search. The operation was said to have been carried out in the presence of El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, and their son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.
However, the lawmaker rejected the claims, saying the family viewed the allegations “with a mixture of contempt and amusement,” and accused the commission of engaging in a “media war rather than adhering to the rule of law.”
On the allegation of non-cooperation with investigators, the statement defended the former governor’s position, stressing that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to remain silent.
“This is not an act of non-cooperation; it is a fundamental human right. No law enforcement agency, regardless of its frustration, is entitled to draw any negative inference from a citizen’s decision to exercise this constitutional right,” the statement said.
The lawmaker also quoted his father as repeatedly challenging the ICPC to file charges if there was evidence against him.
“Charge me, if you have anything against me. You have had more than two years to investigate me. Take me to court,” he said.
The family further disputed the list of items allegedly recovered, maintaining that only “old discarded personal mobile phones and storage devices such as flash drives and laptops” were taken from the property.
“We were present when these items were seized. No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones and storage devices, which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen, were removed from the property,” the statement added.
It also questioned the validity of the search warrant used for the operation, alleging that it was defective and fraudulently procured.
“Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction,” the statement said, claiming that the warrant was improperly issued and that the legality of the search is now before the court.
The lawmaker added that the family had instructed its legal team to pursue all available legal remedies, including challenging what it described as an unlawful search and defamatory claims.