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 and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after being released on bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ICPC confirmed this development in a statement issued on Wednesday night, February 18, 2026.

El-Rufai is under investigation for independent corrupt practices related to financial crimes. The Department of State Services (DSS) had previously filed three counts of charges against him in the Federal High Court, Abuja, following comments made during an interview on Arise Television.

The allegations include unlawful interception of communications and violations of the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act 2015. El-Rufai served as governor from 2015 to 2023 and is also facing separate allegations of financial misconduct involving N423 billion in money laundering, which the Kaduna State House of Assembly has asked anti-graft agencies to investigate.