Nasir El-Rufai has spent a second night in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), deepening political tensions around the former governor’s legal troubles.
El-Rufai was initially detained on Monday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and released late on Wednesday. But shortly after regaining his freedom, he was taken into custody by the ICPC, where he has remained since.
Before his arrest, El-Rufai had written to the commission through his lawyers, signalling his willingness to honour an invitation scheduled for Tuesday. The letter followed an earlier incident at the airport in which operatives of the Department of State Services reportedly seized his passport.
An ICPC official confirmed on Thursday night that the former governor was still being held but declined to disclose the nature of the allegations.
“He is still very much with us. I can’t say the offence he is being investigated for,” the official said, adding that he had been informed of El-Rufai’s continued detention but was not directly involved in the case.
The commission had earlier acknowledged taking custody of El-Rufai on Wednesday night, similarly withholding details of the investigation.
Unverified claims have circulated linking the probe to the failed N11.1bn Joint Venture Kaduna light rail project, though there has been no independent confirmation of this.
Repeated calls and messages to the ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, went unanswered.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, said operatives of the commission had searched the former governor’s residence on Aso Drive in Abuja. According to Adekeye, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the search as unlawful and a breach of due process and fundamental rights.
“The Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir @elrufai was today searched by the ICPC,” Adekeye wrote on X. “Ubong Akpan … condemned the action as unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights.”
The unfolding standoff marks the latest chapter in a week of high-profile detentions involving one of Nigeria’s most prominent and polarising political figures.
