The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has dismissed reports suggesting it sought a fresh court order to extend the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, insisting that his custody remains fully sanctioned by an existing court directive.
In a press statement dated 17 March 2026, the Commission said the clarification was issued to correct “inaccurate reports by some media outlets suggesting that the Commission was in court today, 17th March 2026, seeking a fresh extension of his detention.”
The ICPC explained that its appearance in court on Tuesday was solely to respond to an application filed by El-Rufai challenging the continuation of his remand.
“The Commission appeared in Court today for the hearing of Mallam El-Rufai’s application, dated and filed on 6th March 2026, which seeks to overturn the court order renewing his remand issued on 5th March 2026,” the statement read.
According to the anti-corruption agency, its legal team served the former governor’s counsel with a response to the application.
El-Rufai’s lawyers subsequently requested more time to reply, prompting the magistrate to adjourn the hearing to 31 March 2026 to allow sufficient time for response.
The ICPC provided a timeline of the ongoing legal proceedings, noting that El-Rufai’s detention followed proper court-approved procedures tied to investigations into alleged financial crimes.
“The initial remand order was granted, allowing the Commission to detain the suspect for 14 days to investigate allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
”Upon the expiration of the initial order, the Commission applied for a 14-day extension to complete its investigations, which the court acceded to on 5th March 2026,” the statement said.
It added that an earlier attempt by El-Rufai’s counsel to nullify the remand order, issued on 19 February 2026, had already been dismissed on 9 March 2026.
“Mallam El-Rufai remains in the lawful custody of the ICPC under the remand order dated 5th March 2026.
”The Commission is strictly following the court-mandated timeline, including the requirement for a progress report,” the statement said.
The ICPC reiterated that all actions taken align with the law, citing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 as the legal framework guiding the remand.
Furthermore, the Commission emphasised its commitment to avoiding media trials.
“We believe that legal disputes should be settled in the courtroom, not on newspaper pages and social media platforms,” the statement added.
The ICPC urged the public to rely on verified information and official updates to prevent the spread of misinformation.
The statement was signed by John Okor Odey, Head, Media and Public Communication, ICPC.
