Court To Rule On ICPC’s Request To Extend El-Rufai’s Detention

A Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja has fixed Tuesday, March 17, to rule on a fresh application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) seeking an additional 14 days to detain former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

The presiding magistrate, Okechukwu Akweke, adjourned the matter last week to enable the court to determine whether to grant or dismiss the anti-graft agency’s request.

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 18, 2026, following allegations bordering on money laundering and the illegal interception of communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The anti-corruption commission had earlier secured a 14-day remand order from a Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja, on February 19, 2026.

Naija News understands that the remand order, which allowed the commission to detain the former governor while investigations continued, expired on March 5, 2026.

Following the expiration of the initial remand order, lawyers, family members, and supporters of the former governor criticised his continued detention, describing it as unlawful.

They argued that with the expiration of the legal order authorising his detention, the commission should either release him immediately or formally charge him before a court of competent jurisdiction.

According to them, holding the former governor without a valid court order violates his constitutional rights.

In response, El-Rufai instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, challenging what he described as his prolonged and unlawful detention.

Joined in the suit are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Department of State Services DSS), the ICPC and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The former governor is asking the court to declare his continued detention illegal and order his immediate release.

However, the ICPC has denied violating El-Rufai’s fundamental rights.

The commission maintained that it obtained a valid 14-day remand order from the court and argued that such orders are renewable pending the conclusion of investigations.

The anti-graft agency is therefore seeking a fresh order from the court to continue holding the former governor while it completes its probe.

The court is expected to rule on Tuesday on whether the request for an extension will be granted or dismissed.