Court Adjourns El-Rufai’s Application as ICPC Rebuts Media Reports

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has clarified the circumstances surrounding the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, dismissing reports that it sought a fresh extension of his remand in court on March 17, 2026.
In a statement issued by its Head of Media and Public Communication, John Okor Odey, the Commission explained that its appearance in court was solely for the hearing of an application filed by El-Rufai on March 6, 2026. The application seeks to overturn the court’s earlier decision renewing his remand.
According to the ICPC, during the proceedings, its legal team served El-Rufai’s counsel with a response to the application. The defence subsequently requested an adjournment to allow time to study and respond to the Commission’s submission.
The Magistrate granted the request and adjourned the matter to March 31, 2026.
Providing a timeline of events, the Commission stated that the initial remand order permitted it to detain El-Rufai for 14 days to investigate allegations of money laundering and abuse of office. Following the expiration of that order, the ICPC obtained a 14-day extension on March 5, 2026, to conclude its investigations.
It further disclosed that an earlier attempt by El-Rufai’s legal team to set aside the remand order issued on February 19, 2026, was dismissed by the court on March 9, 2026.
The Commission maintained that El-Rufai remains in lawful custody under the subsisting remand order granted on March 5, stressing that it is operating strictly within the provisions of the law, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
Reaffirming its commitment to due process, the ICPC emphasized that it avoids conducting trials in the media, insisting that legal disputes should be resolved in court.
The anti-graft agency also urged members of the public to disregard unverified information and rely only on official updates, assuring that it remains focused on carrying out its investigative duties professionally and within the bounds of the law.