The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has reportedly dismissed one of its internal security officers, Daniel Stephen, over allegations that he facilitated unauthorised access for Aichatou Asabe El-Rufai, one of the wives of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, while he was in the commission’s custody.
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Stephen, who was attached to the ICPC’s internal security unit, was accused of helping Asabe enter the commission’s premises on July 5, 2026, outside the approved visitor access procedure.
According to reports, CCTV footage allegedly showed Stephen driving Asabe into the ICPC facility, taking her through a back entrance and escorting her to the section where El-Rufai was being held.
Stephen was said to have admitted his involvement in a handwritten statement submitted to an internal investigation panel, acknowledging that he helped El-Rufai’s wife gain access to her husband “through the back door.”
The former Kaduna governor has reportedly remained in ICPC custody since February 19 after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He is facing allegations relating to money laundering and conversion of public property, which he has denied.
An ICPC official quoted in the report alleged that Stephen switched off a light before taking Asabe into the room where El-Rufai was being held.
“At one point, according to his handwritten account, he turned off the light before they went into the room where El-Rufai was,” the official was quoted as saying.
According to the account, Asabe allegedly handed her husband a document, collected a black purse and spoke with him in Hausa about a court matter during a visit said to have lasted about 15 minutes.
“Mrs El-Rufai handed her husband a document, picked up a black purse and spoke with him in Hausa about a court matter. The visit lasted about 15 minutes,” the official reportedly said.
Stephen was then said to have escorted her out through the same back entrance and driven her from the premises.
The dismissed officer reportedly admitted to the panel that he knew the visit did not comply with established security procedures.
He explained that visitors to the commission were required to have their details recorded at the entrance and obtain clearance from the head of the security unit before being permitted into restricted areas.
“I agree that I am wrong and breached commission procedure,” Stephen was quoted as writing in his statement, adding that he made the admission voluntarily and without coercion or duress.
The internal inquiry reportedly went beyond the July 5 incident, with claims that Stephen had previously assisted Asabe while officials were still attempting to verify her identity.
According to the account attributed to him, after that encounter he was approached by a man who identified himself as El-Rufai’s blood brother and also sought his assistance to gain access to the facility.
Stephen allegedly admitted that he agreed to assist the man and brought him into the premises through the back entrance.
The allegations suggested a pattern of breaches of the commission’s visitor and security procedures, prompting disciplinary action against the officer.
The reported dismissal relates to alleged violations of ICPC internal security rules and should not be taken as establishing any wrongdoing by El-Rufai or his family beyond the specific access allegations described in the internal account.
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