Nasir el-Rufai has spent more than 70 days in detention since being taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on 18 February 2026, two days after voluntarily appearing before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ICPC initially secured a 14-day remand order, promising to charge him within that period, but failed to do so before the order expired. Instead, the agency obtained a second remand warrant. On 28 March 2026, the ICPC filed charges against el-Rufai in both the Federal High Court, Kaduna, and the Kaduna State High Court. The Federal High Court granted him bail on 14 April 2026, but a week later, the Kaduna State High Court denied bail. He remains in custody.
The charges against el-Rufai are bailable, and the ICPC has cited his invocation of the constitutional right to silence as grounds for continued detention, claiming it amounts to non-cooperation. The agency also stated in court documents that wiretapping equipment was recovered from his residence. Journalists were barred from covering one of the court proceedings. The movement of el-Rufai between the SSS, EFCC and ICPC has raised concerns about procedural overreach. Legal observers note that prolonged pretrial detention contradicts the principle of presumption of innocence.
The ICPC promised to charge el-Rufai within 14 days but kept him detained and only filed charges after the deadline passed. The same offences carry bail for others, yet el-Rufai has spent over 70 days in custody without release. Courts granted and denied bail within a week of each other, creating legal confusion that prolongs detention. When institutions bypass timelines and recycle defendants through multiple courts, due process erodes for all citizens.
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