The commission made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, John Okor Odey
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said Nasir el-Rufai is still in its lawful custody over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office, stressing that his detention follows due legal process.
The commission made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, John Okor Odey.
Odey disclosed that a magistrate court on March 5 granted the ICPC a 14-day extension to continue its investigation after the expiration of an earlier remand order.
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The commission’s clarification comes amid mounting calls from various quarters demanding either his release or arraignment.
Responding to the concerns, the ICPC said it is strictly adhering to the court-approved timeline in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
“To keep the public informed, the commission provides the following timeline of the court authorised detention,” the statement read.
“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.
“Counsel to el-Rufai attempted to set aside the remand order issued on 19th February, 2026, but the application was dismissed on 9th 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 ICPC conducts its duties with the highest professionalism and respect for the rule of law.
“The remand of Mr El-Rufai has been authorised by a court of law in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
“Furthermore, the ICPC remains firm in upholding its longstanding policy of avoiding media trials. We believe that legal disputes should be settled in the courtroom, not on newspaper pages and social media platforms.
“The commission’s leadership remains steadfast and undeterred in confronting any and all challenges in the course of the current investigation.
“We urge the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to rely on official updates from the commission.”
Meanwhile, el-Rufai has filed a fundamental rights suit before a federal high court in Abuja, challenging the search conducted on his residence by the ICPC and the remand order issued on February 19.
The respondents in the suit include the ICPC, the chief magistrate who issued the remand order, the inspector-general of police, and the attorney-general of the federation.
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