The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured an order of an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, to further detain a former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for another 14 days.
The Chief Magistrate Okechukwu Akweke granted the extension order, whose lifespan would extinguished on March 19, to allow the ICPC sufficient time to conclude investigation into fresh allegations against the one time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Court records revealed that the renewal of el-Rufai’s detention for fresh 14 days was granted on Thursday with the ex-governor duly represented.
In his ruling, Akweke said: “Upon hearing and listening to the prosecuting counsel Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, praying this Honourable court for the following orders:
“An order of this Honourable Court issuing a remand warrant against the Respondent (Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai) in favour of the Applicant i.e. Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to detain the respondent (Naair Ahmed El-Rufai) in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending conclusion of investigation activities on allegations of Money Laundering/abuse of office. That the return date shall be 19th day of March 2026, for report of compliance.”
Meanwhile, earlier attempts by el-Rufai’s to quash the first remand order failed as his application was dismissed by a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Bwari, Abuja.
Ruling on the same application which has been returned to Chief Magistrate Akweke, has now fixed March 17, for him to decide as to whether to set aside the extension order or not.
His application to set aside the first remand order, was filed by his counsel, el-Rufai, Ukpong Esop Akpan, who argued that the order of the Chief Magistrate Court was jurisdictional overreach.
The said application was brought pursuant to sections 293, 294, 295, 296, 298, 299and 100 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015; Section 6 (6) (B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended); and Order 26, Rules 1-3 of the Magistrates’ Courts Rules of the Federal Capital Territory under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.
It was supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Mohammed Salihu Shaba, who averred as follows:”That I have the authority and consent of the Respondent/Applicant to depose to this affidavit in support of the Motion.
“That the Remand Order dated 19th February, 2026, made by this Honourable Court (a Certified True Copy of which is attached hereto and marked as Exhibit “A”) is fundamentally defective and ought to be set aside for nullity.”
