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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

ICPC defends denial of ADC leaders' access to El-Rufai, citing court order

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) denied African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders access to former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
  • ICPC stated the denial was due to a subsisting court order limiting access to El-Rufai's immediate family, legal counsel, and doctors.
  • The commission refuted allegations of harassment, stating the ADC leaders received a written refusal before their visit.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has defended its decision to deny leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) access to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The commission insists the action was in strict compliance with a subsisting court order.

Yes, we denied them. They wrote to us saying that they wanted to come and visit El-Rufai. They listed those people who came, Aregbesola, Abolaji Abdullahi and others.

— John OdeyICPC spokesman John Odey confirmed the denial of access to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

ICPC spokesman John Odey told PUNCH Online on Saturday that the commission formally replied to an ADC letter requesting permission for some party leaders to visit El-Rufai. "Yes, we denied them. They wrote to us saying that they wanted to come and visit El-Rufai. They listed those people who came, Aregbesola, Abolaji Abdullahi and others," Odey stated.

The access is limited to the category of his immediate family members, his legal counsel and his medical doctors. Based on the court order, under the circumstances, we are not able to grant them their request to visit.

— John OdeyJohn Odey explained the limitations imposed by a court order on who can visit El-Rufai.

He explained that the court order specifically limits access to El-Rufai's immediate family members, his legal counsel, and his medical doctors. "Based on the court order, under the circumstances, we are not able to grant them their request to visit," Odey said. He confirmed that the ADC received the commission's written refusal, which was stamped as received, before their planned visit.

The letter was given to them, and it was stamped that they received it.

— John OdeyJohn Odey stated that the ADC received the ICPC's refusal letter prior to their visit.

Odey dismissed allegations that ADC leaders were intimidated or harassed by security operatives at the ICPC headquarters. He clarified that armed policemen stationed at the gate are part of routine security arrangements. "No, no, no. They were not harassed. No harassment whatsoever. They were not intimidated," he asserted. The ICPC spokesman reiterated that the commission would continue to obey the court order, emphasizing that the ADC, as a political association, does not fall under the categories permitted by the court for access.

No, no, no. They were not harassed. No harassment whatsoever. They were not intimidated.

— John OdeyJohn Odey refuted claims that ADC leaders were harassed or intimidated by security operatives.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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