Court Extends El-Rufai's Detention Over Money Laundering

On Thursday, a chief magistrate court in Bwari, Abuja, granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) permission to detain former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for an additional 14 days. This order, issued by Chief Magistrate Okechukwu John Akwek, allows the anti-graft agency to conclude its investigation into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office against El-Rufai.

The latest remand order is set to expire on March 19. The court documents indicate that the order was granted in the presence of El-Rufai's legal representatives following an application by ICPC prosecuting counsel Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha.

El-Rufai's counsel, Ukpong Esop Akpan, previously sought to nullify the first remand order, which was dismissed by the court. A subsequent hearing is scheduled for March 17 to determine the validity of the new detention order.

El-Rufai has described the court's order as an overreach of jurisdiction.