…ICPC maintained that El-Rufai remains in lawful custody under the March 5 remand order and that it is strictly complying with court directives,
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday night dismissed reports claiming it had sought a fresh court order to prolong the detention of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
Addressing the controversy, the Commission said it did not approach the court to extend El-Rufai’s custody, but rather to respond to a legal application filed by the former governor challenging his remand.
This clarification was contained in a statement issued by the ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communication, John Okor Odey.
According to the statement, the Commission appeared in court on March 17, 2026, for the hearing of El-Rufai’s application filed on March 6, 2026, which seeks to overturn the court order renewing his remand granted on March 5, 2026.
During the proceedings, the ICPC served its response on El-Rufai’s counsel, who then requested an adjournment to review the filing. The Magistrate subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31, 2026, to allow the defence adequate time to respond.
The Commission’s explanation comes amid growing public interest in the case, particularly regarding the duration of El-Rufai’s detention and adherence to due process.
Providing further clarity, the ICPC outlined that the court initially granted a 14-day remand to enable investigation into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. This was later extended by another 14 days on March 5, 2026, following the Commission’s request.
It also revealed that an earlier attempt by El-Rufai’s legal team to set aside the initial remand order issued on February 19, 2026, was dismissed on March 9, 2026.
ICPC maintained that El-Rufai remains in lawful custody under the March 5 remand order and that it is strictly complying with court directives, including submitting progress reports as required.
Reaffirming its stance, the ICPC said it avoids trying cases in the media, stressing that legal matters should be resolved in court rather than in the public space.
It further urged the public to disregard unverified reports and rely only on official information from the Commission.
