The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday clarified that reports suggesting it sought a fresh court order to extend the remand of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai were inaccurate.
In a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media and Public Communication, John Odey, the ICPC explained that it appeared in court on March 17, 2026, for the hearing of an application filed by El-Rufai on March 6 seeking to overturn a remand order granted on March 5.
During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s counsel was served with the commission’s response to the application and subsequently requested an adjournment to review the documents. The presiding magistrate adjourned the hearing to March 31, 2026, to give the former governor’s legal team time to respond.
“ICPC wishes to clarify the current legal status of the remand of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.
This statement is necessary to correct inaccurate reports suggesting that the commission sought a fresh extension of his detention today, 17th March 2026.
The commission appeared solely for the hearing of Mr. El-Rufai’s application, filed on 6th March 2026, seeking to overturn the remand order issued on 5th March 2026. Counsel was served with our response and requested an adjournment. The magistrate adjourned the hearing to 31st March 2026,” the ICPC said.
Timeline of the remand
The ICPC noted that an initial court order allowed the commission to detain El-Rufai for 14 days to investigate allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. After the initial period expired, the court granted a further 14-day extension on March 5 to complete the investigation.
The commission also said that an earlier attempt by El-Rufai’s lawyers to set aside a February 19 remand order was dismissed by the court on March 9.
ICPC emphasized that the former governor remains in lawful custody under the March 5 remand order and that all actions are in strict compliance with the court’s directives, including required progress reports. The commission’s detention authority is based on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
“The ICPC remains committed to professionalism and the rule of law. We avoid media trials and believe legal disputes should be resolved in court, not on newspaper pages or social media.
Our leadership remains steadfast in confronting challenges during this investigation. We urge the public to rely on official updates and avoid spreading unverified information,” the statement added.
According to reports, El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 19, immediately after being released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He had returned from Cairo, Egypt, on February 12 and honored the EFCC’s invitation on February 16.
Separately, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a suit against El-Rufai for allegedly wiretapping the phone line of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
