Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order extending the detention of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, for another 14 days.
The order was granted by the Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja, to allow the anti corruption agency more time to complete its investigation into allegations involving money laundering and abuse of office.
The new remand order was issued on Thursday in the presence of el-Rufai’s legal representative. It will remain in effect until Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Chief Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke approved the request after hearing an application from the prosecution, represented by Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.
The court ruling allowed the ICPC to continue holding the former governor while investigators complete ongoing inquiries related to petitions filed against him.
The order stated that the commission was authorised to detain el-Rufai for an additional 14 days to enable it to conclude investigation activities and return to court with a compliance report by March 19.
Before this latest ruling, el-Rufai’s lawyer had challenged the first remand order granted by the court. That application was dismissed.
Despite the earlier dismissal, the former governor’s legal team has filed another application seeking to nullify the new detention order. The court has scheduled Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to determine whether the extension should be set aside.
A source familiar with the investigation said the anti corruption commission followed proper legal procedures before detaining the former governor.
“With a Senior Advocate of Nigeria as the commission’s chairman, we cannot detain el-Rufai or any suspect without a valid court other.
“El-Rufai’s legal team has been part of all our legal processes. But the narration out there is that ICPC is oppressing him. The first remand order was challenged by his lawyer, the case was dismissed. The second remand order is an issue before the court which will rule on March 17th. They feed the public with false instead of being forthcoming on what transpired in court.
“The ICPC Chairman has no vested interest and he is not being used. We have an outstanding petition against el-Rufai and equity demands that we hear from him.”
However, el-Rufai’s lawyer, Ukpong Esop Akpan, argued that the order issued by the Chief Magistrate Court amounts to a jurisdictional overreach.
He filed an application relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A 20 paragraph affidavit submitted in support of the application stated that the original remand order dated February 19, 2026, was defective and should be set aside.
The court is expected to rule on the application on March 17.