Nasir El‑Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as part of an ongoing investigation, the agency has confirmed.
El-Rufai had earlier presented himself at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja on Monday following an invitation linked to alleged financial improprieties during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. He was held by the EFCC for questioning for two nights.
On Wednesday evening, after being briefly granted administrative bail by the EFCC, El-Rufai was taken into ICPC custody just outside the EFCC complex. The anti-graft agency confirmed in a statement on February 18, 2026, that he remained in its custody at the close of work that day.
ICPC’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, said the former governor was being held in connection with ongoing investigations, but the commission has not publicly detailed the specific allegations or charges involved.
The circumstances surrounding El-Rufai’s movement between agencies have generated public attention. His brief release on EFCC bail was quickly followed by re-arrest by ICPC operatives, signalling overlapping probes with different anti-corruption bodies.
El-Rufai’s legal team has previously objected to aspects of his detention, including demanding proper invitations and adherence to due process. However, neither the EFCC nor ICPC has disclosed formal charges tied to his current custody.
The development follows months of calls by state lawmakers and civil society groups for anti-graft agencies to investigate El-Rufai over alleged financial irregularities linked to his administration, including reports of significant public funds mismanagement.