The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission rejected claims on Monday that it breached court orders or denied food to a defendant in custody.
John Odey, the agency's Deputy Director for Media and Public Communications, made the denial during a briefing in Abuja.
A Hausa-language video circulated Friday night showed a woman claiming to be the wife of a detainee. She alleged that ICPC staff blocked her entry at 7:00 pm with food.
According to her account, the Commission violated a court order permitting family visits. She also said her husband wasn't receiving meals.
ICPC disputed every claim. Officials described the allegations as false and designed to mislead the public.
The agency explained its Access Control Protocol clearly. Visitors can enter between 9:00 am and 6:30 pm, a rule that predates current leadership.
This policy applies equally to all visitors, the Commission stressed. It includes families of persons held at ICPC facilities.
Security and accountability drive the system, officials noted. The arrangement isn't arbitrary or punitive in any way.
Families of detainees know about the protocol beforehand. Most comply without issue, according to ICPC records.
Contrary to the video's narrative, the defendant's family had already delivered food that morning. Visitor logs showed multiple approved entries between 10:30 am and 5:30 pm.
One of the wives and a housemaid visited several times, bringing meals. All visits were documented and authorized.
Authorized persons can see detainees within approved hours, ICPC confirmed. These include relatives, lawyers, and medical professionals.
Nobody gains entry after 6:30 pm under any circumstances. The woman in the video arrived at approximately 7:00 pm.
Claims about violating court orders lack merit, according to officials. Recorded evidence contradicts the woman's statements.
Notably, she herself mentioned delivering breakfast and lunch earlier that day. Her own words undermine the denial-of-food narrative.
ICPC identified the defendant as former Kaduna Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. His political prominence requires enhanced security protocols.
These measures aren't unique to his case. High-profile detainees receive similar treatment as standard procedure.
No special punishment or restrictions apply to him. Security considerations simply demand heightened management.
On medical access claims, ICPC said procedure matters, not refusal. Proper identification and confirmation remain required before visits occur.
El-Rufai attended dental and eye appointments the week before the incident. ICPC officials provided necessary escort during these visits.
In-house medical services remain available to him. The agency hasn't denied healthcare in any capacity.
