El-Rufai: ICPC Seeks Another Extension Of Court Remand Order

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A Bwari Chief Magistrate court will on Tuesday March 17, 2026, rule to determine whether to extend for the second time the order granted to the Independent Corrupt Practices,  and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to remand former Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir.

The Source reports that  El-Rufai who is facing inter-agency investigations on multiple charges bordering on alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds, and security related Offences has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 18, 2026, when he was granted bail  by a sister agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The presiding Magistrate, His Worship Okechukwu John Akweke, had first granted the ICPC a 14-day remand order on February 19, 2026, which elapsed on March 5, 2026.

However, following widespread indignation and condemnation of the continued detention of El-Rufai, a chieftain of the opposition coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the anti-graft Commission was granted a second 14-day remand order which will run out on  Friday March 19, 2026.

But with the second remand order a few days to expire, the ICPC has again  approached the same court seeking a further extension to the remand order .

Amidst strident criticisms both from family, political associates ,and concerned individuals and groups over El-Rufai’s continued incarceration without trial, the anti-graft Commission has denied any wrong doing.

The Commission said its demand for an extension to the remand order is in tandem with extant laws of the land, insisting that the order is necessary to enable it conclude its investigations into allegations of corruption practices against the former Kaduna State Governor.

The ICPC further noted that the remand order is subject to the renewal based on the discretion of the Court.

However, there have been growing insinuations suggesting that the EFCC and the ICPC are allegedly  working in concert to keep El-Rufai in custody till April 23,2026 , when he is due for arraignment by the Department of State Service, DSS, over alleged wire-tapping of the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser NSA.