An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court has granted the request of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC), to further detain a former Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, for another 14 days.
The order was granted by Chief Magistrate Okechukwu Akweke to enable the anti-graft agency to conclude investigations into fresh allegations against the former governor, who also served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (GCT).
Court records indicate that the renewal of el-Rufa’i’s detention was granted l Thursday following an application by the ICPC, with the former governor represented by his legal team during the proceedings.
The detention is connected to an investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds and the discovery of suspected wiretapping equipment in his Abuja residence.
In his ruling, the magistrate said the court considered the application presented by the prosecuting counsel, Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, who requested a remand warrant to allow the Commission to continue its investigation into allegations bordering on money laundering and abuse of office.
“Upon hearing the prosecuting counsel… this Honourable Court hereby grants an order issuing a remand warrant against the respondent, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, in favour of the applicant, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, to detain the respondent in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending the conclusion of investigation activities”, the magistrate ruled.
The court fixed March 19, 2026, as the return date for a report on compliance.
Meanwhile, earlier efforts by el-Rufa’i to quash the initial remand order were unsuccessful, as a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Bwari, Abuja, dismissed his application.
The matter has since been returned to Chief Magistrate Akweke, who fixed March 17 to decide whether the extension order should be set aside.
El-Rufa’i’s application challenging the initial remand order was filed by his counsel, Ukpong Esop Akpan, who argued that the magistrate court exceeded its jurisdiction by granting the order. The application was brought pursuant to Sections 293, 294, 295, 296, 298, 299 and 100 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Section 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and Order 26, Rules 1–3 of the Magistrates’ Courts Rules of the FCT.
It was supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Salihu Shaba, who stated that he had the authority of the former governor to swear to the affidavit in support of the Motion.
He argued that the remand order dated February 19, 2026, issued by the court was fundamentally defective and therefore should be set aside.
