El-Rufai to Face ICPC Over N423 Billion Allegations

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, is scheduled to appear at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) office in Abuja on February 18, 2026. This follows allegations that he siphoned N423 billion from state government funds.

El-Rufai has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he is being persecuted. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, indicated that they had notified the anti-graft agency of El-Rufai's upcoming appearance, which is in connection to allegations related to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

El-Rufai's legal team has also expressed concerns about the potential for politically motivated arrest upon his return to Nigeria, especially after two associates, Amadu Sule and Jimi Lawal, faced charges of fraud and money laundering. The situation has been complicated by a prior incident at the airport involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was reportedly involved in a failed attempt to arrest El-Rufai.

El-Rufai's lawyer emphasized that no government agency has the authority to detain citizens without due process.