ICPC clarifies El-Rufai’s detention lawful, confirms court adjournment

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has clarified that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai remains in its custody based on a valid remand order issued by a court.

In a statement on Tuesday, ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed that El-Rufai is being held under a court order dated March 5, 2026, emphasizing the Commission’s adherence to legal protocols.

“Mallam El-Rufai remains in the lawful custody of the ICPC under the remand order dated 5th March, 2026,” Odey stated. “The commission is strictly following the court-mandated timeline, including the requirement for a progress report.”

Odey stressed that the ICPC operates with professionalism and respect for the rule of law, noting that the remand was authorized under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. He added that the Commission appeared in court on Tuesday, March 17, regarding El-Rufai’s application challenging the remand extension.

“During today’s proceedings, counsel to Mr El-Rufai was served with our response to his application. The lawyer subsequently requested an adjournment to respond to the commission’s response,” Odey explained, adding that the magistrate adjourned the hearing to March 31, 2026.

The initial 14-day remand order was granted to allow the ICPC to investigate allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. Upon expiration, the court extended the order for another 14 days on March 5. A previous attempt by El-Rufai’s counsel to set aside the initial remand order was dismissed by the court on March 9.

El-Rufai, who is under investigation over an alleged N432 billion money laundering case based on a petition by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has been in ICPC custody since February 18.

He initially spent two days with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after turning himself in on February 16.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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