Dare Babalola
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has explained why the wife of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was denied access to him at the agency’s facility, stating that she arrived about 30 minutes after official visiting hours had ended.
The commission, in a statement issued on Monday by its Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, dismissed claims that it deliberately restricted access to the former governor.
According to the ICPC, its access control policy allows visitors into the facility only between 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., noting that the regulation has existed long before the current leadership of the commission.
The anti-graft agency said the rule applies to all suspects and defendants in its custody, adding that the El-Rufai family was aware of the policy.
“On the Friday in question, one of the defendant’s wives and a housemaid were permitted to bring food to the defendant on no fewer than three occasions between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.,” the statement read.
The commission explained that the visits were documented in its official register and could be independently verified.
It further stated that authorised visitors, including family members, legal counsel and medical personnel, are allowed access to suspects in custody within the approved hours.
However, the ICPC maintained that no visitor is permitted entry after 6:30 p.m.
“The woman in the video herself acknowledged that she arrived at 7:00 p.m. — thirty minutes after the close of the official access window,” the statement added.
The commission also claimed that El-Rufai’s wife had, on previous occasions, exceeded the approved duration for visits.
According to the ICPC, her allegation that the former governor was denied food was contradicted by her own admission that she had earlier delivered breakfast and lunch to him on the same day.
