Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is scheduled to remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) until March 19, 2026. This extended detention is part of the ongoing investigation into corruption allegations, pending a potential arraignment or release on administrative bail.
The court issued the order for the anti-graft agency to continue holding him while the probe into alleged corrupt practices progresses.
El-Rufai was initially arrested by the ICPC on February 18, following numerous petitions submitted to the commission. His apprehension by the ICPC occurred shortly after his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had also detained him on February 16 for similar corruption-related allegations.
The ICPC secured an initial 14-day remand order for El-Rufai on February 19, which concluded on March 5, 2026. It is understood that the commission sought an extension due to El-Rufai's alleged lack of cooperation with investigators during the initial period.
The extended remand, now set to expire on March 19, 2026, is expected to allow the ICPC to finalize its investigation. The commission is anticipated to either file charges against the former governor or grant him administrative bail by this date.
Separately, the Department of State Service (DSS) has also reportedly sought the prosecution of El-Rufai concerning allegations of wiretapping the communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai's scheduled arraignment at the Federal High Court in Abuja last week was postponed because he was still in the ICPC's custody.
Information obtained indicates that Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke of the Bwari Magistrate Court in Abuja extended El-Rufai's detention for another 14 days on March 5, following an application by the ICPC.
The extension was requested by ICPC's lawyer, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who sought a remand warrant for the respondent (Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai) in the commission's custody for an additional fourteen days. This was to facilitate the conclusion of investigations into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
In his ruling, the Magistrate granted the application, ordering that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) be allowed to re-detain Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai for an additional 14 days to allow the commission to complete its investigation activities.
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