ICPC denies witch-hunt, says El-Rufai in custody over unmet bail conditions

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission has denied a political witch-hunt against former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The ICPC Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Communications, Mr John Odey, who said this while addressing newsmen on Monday in Abuja, maitained that The commission insists that El Rufai remained in custody for failing to meet bail conditions.

Odey also refuted claims that the commission was disobeying any court order.

He maintained that continued detention of the former governor was not politically motivated but strictly a matter of law and compliance with bail conditions.

Our correspondent recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna had on April 14, granted El-Rufai a N200 million bail and two sureties in like sum.

The former governor is facing a 10-count amended charge bordering on alleged corruption and money laundering filed by the ICPC.

The court also directed that one of the sureties must be a resident in Kaduna State with a property worth 200 million and a verified CofO.

According to the court, the second surety must be a well-respected elder, certified by the elders council.

The court further ordered that he should remain in the custody of the commission pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

Odey said that the former governor could not however, meet the bail conditions set by the court, hence he still remained in the ICPC’s custody.

“He is in the custody of ICPC as remanded by a court of competent jurisdiction and he is doing very well, he is fine and he is in good health,” Odey said.

Our correspondent reports that this is coming as the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, also granted him bail in the sum of N100m over charges bordering on alleged breach of national security.

The Monday bail ruling followed his arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) on an amended five-count charge bordering on alleged breach of national security.

When asked if El-Rufai would be released based on bail granted by the court on Monday, Odey said: “That is for the judicial process to determine

“For us, if he meets the bail conditions given to him in our matter, we have no reason to keep him further.”

He maintained that the anti-graft agency was not a political party and could not be keeping the former governor for political reasons.

He insisted that his custody was strictly a matter of law and compliance with bail conditions set by the court, noting that the commission’s operations were strictly within the confines of the law.

He said the agency’s actions were guided strictly by law and judicial directives, not political considerations, adding that El-Rufai’s continued custody was solely based on his failure to perfect his bail.

“The ICPC is not a political party. The ICPC does not play politics. It does not exist to play politics. The law establishing the ICPC is very clear.

“So, suggestions that the commission is targeting El-Rufai for political reasons are unfounded and misleading, ” he said.

He also refuted the claim that the commission had ignored a court order for his release, adding that such claims were inaccurate and misleading.

Odey said: “The commission fully respects judicial authority and would comply once all legal requirements are satisfied.

“The court granted him bail and he is yet to meet his bail conditions. If he meets his bail conditions today, I can assure you that the ICPC will let him go.”