-
Accuses Agency of Forging Warrant
- Safiu Kehinde
The family of detained former Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has debunked claim of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the discovery of phone tapping equipment at the residence of the ex-Kaduna governor.
ICPC had reportedly raided the Abuja residence of El-Rufai on Sunday where electronic equipment allegedly capable of tapping telephone conversations and sensitive security documents were claimed to have been discovered.
The commission said the operation was witnessed by his wife, Hadiza Isma el-Rufai, and his son, Hon. Mohammed Bello el-Rufai.
Reacting to the ICPC’s report listing the discovered items after the search, the El-Rufai family, in a statement issued on Monday by Bello El-Rufai, faulted the alleged discovery by the commission, labelling the list as a work of fiction.
As against the anti-graft agency’s report, the family held that no equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones some dating back as much as 20 years, storage devices like flash drives and laptops were recovered at the residence of the former Kaduna governor.
“The ICPC’s press statement presented a list of seized equipment designed to conjure images of espionage and criminality. This list is a work of fiction, for reasons which will soon become known.” Bello wrote.
He further disclosed that the list of the recovered items have not been endorsed by El-Ruafi or his lawyer.
“WE WERE PRESENT WHEN THESE ITEMS WERE SEIZED.
“No equipment other than old discarded personal mobile phones some dating back as much as 20 years, storage devices like flash drives and laptops, which are standard possessions of any 21st-century citizen, were seized from the property.
“The alleged “sophisticated tapping equipment” and “sensitive security documents” exist only in the fevered imagination of the ICPC and its press team.” Bello wrote.
The family expressed its disappointment and amusement over what it described as litany of allegations, falsehoods, and theatrical posturing emanating from the ICPC.
“It is deeply unfortunate that a constitutionally established agency has descended into what can only be described as a circus of chicanery, apparently designed to prosecute a media war rather than adhere to the rule of law.” The statement rad.
On El-Rufai’s reported silence during investigation, the family noted that the ex-Kaduna governor has the right to remain silence as it accused the ICPC of attempt to weaponise his silence.
“The ICPC has ludicrously attempted to weaponize the silence of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai against him, claiming he “refused to cooperate.”
“We must educate the Commission on the most basic tenet of Nigerian jurisprudence: The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 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 at a failed operation, is entitled to draw any negative inference from a citizen’s decision to exercise this constitutional hermetic seal.
“That the ICPC believes silence implies guilt is a confession of their own inquisitorial mindset and their disregard for the very laws they are sworn to uphold.” Bello wrote.
The Kaduna North lawmaker held that the ICPC had nothing to challenge El-Rufai with, hence the creation of the false claims.
He recalled one of El-Rufai’s open challenge to the security agency to come and charge him if their find any anything against him.
“CHARGE ME, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ME. YOU HAVE HAD MORE THAN 2 YEARS TO INVESTIGATE ME. TAKE ME TO COURT PLEASE.”
“This challenge cannot be met. It is the reason for these lies and obfuscation by ICPC.” He said.
The El-Rufai also raised alarm over alleged forgery of the arrant of arrest document for the ICPC as well the presence of a Maigstrate Court judge at the Fedceral High Cour.
“The entire foundation of this investigation is rotten.
“The search that purportedly uncovered these phantom items originated from a legally defective warrant. We have credible evidence that the warrant was a forgery, fraudulently procured and presented by a Magistrate who was, bizarrely, purporting to sit in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
“An illegality of this magnitude—a forgery at the very inception of a state-sponsored search—renders everything that follows it inadmissible and void.
“Our lawyers have challenged this illegitimate warrant in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The ICPC is welcome to explain in court how a Magistrate conjured the jurisdiction of a High Court to sign a warrant based on false premises.” The statement read further,
The El-Rufai family further questioned the credibility of the ICPC’s describing it report a textbook example of projection, the guilty person ascribing his crimes to his victim.
“It is a document riddled with the very offenses it is meant to combat.
“We see before us a litany of forgery, uttering of false documents, and the peddling of falsehood that is nothing short of criminal.
“This level of unprofessional conduct, abuse of office, and sheer chicanery is the hallmark of an organization that has been completely captured and weaponized.
“It is an organization so bereft of any redeeming feature of credibility that it must now manufacture evidence to justify its existence.” The family said.
They disclosed that the case had presented before the court by El-Rufai’s lawyer.
“We will not be tried in the court of public opinion by a discredited agency acting on behalf of political masters.
“We have instructed our legal team to pursue all available legal remedies to challenge the illegal search, the forged warrant, and the defamatory statements made by the ICPC.
“We have absolute faith that the Nigerian judiciary will see through this shameful charade and uphold the rights of our family against this executive overreach.
“It would not surprise us if the ICPC were to produce something of that nature in furtherance of its descent into infamy. After all a court of law has already lampooned ICPC in another matter, of procuring fake search warrants.” The statement added.
