Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State and leader in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), remains in detention as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) took him into custody on Wednesday night.
This transition occurred immediately after he was released on administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he had been held since Monday morning.
The former governor is facing a barrage of legal challenges.
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The Kaduna State Assembly has petitioned for his investigation over the alleged misappropriation of N423 billion, while activists like lawyer Deji Adeyanju have called for probes into claims of “financial misconduct, abuse of office, releasing funds to bandits while holding the office of Governor of Kaduna State.”
On Wednesday night, ICPC spokesperson John Odey confirmed the former governor’s status, stating, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to state that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, is in our custody as at close of work today, Wednesday, the 18th day of February, 2026.”
The commission clarified that “Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the commission in connection with investigations.”
In addition to the corruption probes, El-Rufai is facing a criminal trial initiated by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a three-count charge marked FCT/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the 65-year-old is accused of violating the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The charges stem from a televised interview where El-Rufai claimed to have knowledge of a conversation involving National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.
The DSS alleges that El-Rufai “admitted during the broadcast that he was aware of some persons who had intercepted the private phone communications of the NSA.”
The government contends that this act posed a “threat to public safety and national security” and that the former governor “not only acknowledged those who carried out the interception but also failed to report them to relevant security agencies.”
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