Court to Rule on El-Rufai's Detention Request February 20

The court is scheduled to rule on February 20, 2026, on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission's (ICPC) request for a fresh 14-day detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. This follows a previous remand order issued by Magistrate Okechukwu Akwek, which allowed the ICPC to hold El-Rufai until March 5, 2026, while investigating allegations of money laundering and illegal interception of communications.

El-Rufai's legal team argues that his continued detention is unlawful, citing a lack of fresh orders and the expiration of the initial remand. They have filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, challenging the legality of his detention and joining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Attorney General of the Federation in the suit.

The ICPC, however, maintains that it has a valid remand order to hold El-Rufai pending the conclusion of its investigation.