A Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja, has authorised the continued detention of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai for another 14 days to allow investigators complete ongoing inquiries into allegations of financial misconduct.
The order was granted on Thursday by Chief Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke following an application filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
According to court records, the anti-graft agency sought the extension to finalise its investigation into claims of money laundering and abuse of office involving the former governor. The new remand period is expected to run until March 19.
Legal documents obtained from the proceedings indicated that the ruling was delivered in the presence of El-Rufai’s legal representative after the prosecution formally requested the extension.
The application, filed by prosecuting counsel Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, urged the court to permit the commission to keep the former governor in custody while it concludes its investigative activities.
In granting the request, the court directed the anti-corruption agency to retain El-Rufai for an additional two weeks pending the completion of the probe and ordered the commission to return to court on March 19 with a report on its progress.
Legal Challenge to Detention
Despite the fresh order, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ukpong Esop Akpan, has filed a motion before the same court seeking to overturn the detention directive.
The legal team had previously attempted to invalidate an earlier remand order, but that application was dismissed by the court.
Chief Magistrate Akweke has now scheduled March 17 to hear arguments on whether the new remand order should be vacated.
ICPC Defends Investigation
A source within the ICPC dismissed suggestions that the agency was targeting the former governor, maintaining that all actions taken so far have followed due legal procedure.
According to the official, the commission obtained valid court approvals before detaining the former governor and has carried out its processes in the presence of his legal team.
The source emphasised that the investigation was initiated following a petition filed against El-Rufai and that the commission is obligated to hear from him as part of its inquiry.
El-Rufai Disputes Court’s Authority
However, El-Rufai has argued that the court’s decision to authorise his detention amounts to an overreach of jurisdiction.
Through his counsel, he has filed a motion asking the court to set aside the remand order, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as well as relevant sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
The application is supported by a sworn affidavit submitted by Mohammed Salihu Shaba, which argues that the earlier remand order issued in February is legally flawed and should be declared invalid.
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The court is expected to decide on the challenge in the coming days as the investigation into the allegations against the former governor continues.