ICPC Detains Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on February 18, 2026, following his release on bail from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ICPC confirmed this development through spokesperson J.

Okor Odei, stating that El-Rufai's custody is connected to an investigation into independent corrupt practices. Earlier, the Department of State Services (DSS) had filed three counts of criminal charges against him in the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.

These charges stemmed from comments made during an interview on Arise Television, where El-Rufai allegedly admitted to unlawful interception of communications. He is also facing separate allegations of financial misconduct involving the laundering of N423 billion, which the Kaduna State House of Assembly has requested anti-graft investigations into.

El-Rufai has denied these allegations, claiming they are attempts to damage his reputation.