Counsel to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to stop what he described as a smear campaign and either release his client immediately or arraign him before a competent court.
In a statement issued in Abuja, lawyer Ubong Esop Akpan accused the anti-graft agency of leaking unverified reports claiming El-Rufai owns multi-billion-naira properties in Egypt in a bid to justify what he called his unlawful detention.
Akpan said the former governor has now spent more than 20 days in custody without formal charges.
According to him, the allegations are unsupported by verifiable evidence and rely largely on anonymous sources, making them politically motivated rather than legally sustainable.
He noted that El-Rufai initially honoured an EFCC invitation voluntarily on February 16, was granted administrative bail, and was later taken into custody on February 18.
Akpan also challenged the legality of a 14-day remand order allegedly obtained on February 19, arguing that the magistrate court lacked jurisdiction and that the order expired on March 4. He said continued detention violates the Constitution and the rule of law.
The lawyer insisted that if there is credible evidence, the commission should proceed to court without delay.
