A Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari has granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) permission to detain former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for an additional 14 days.
The extension was approved to allow the anti-graft agency more time to conclude its investigation into allegations of money laundering and abuse of office against the former governor.
The latest order, granted in the presence of El-Rufai’s legal representative, will remain in effect until March 19, when the commission is expected to provide a report on the progress of its investigation.
Despite the ruling, El-Rufai’s legal team has returned to the same court seeking to nullify the detention order, arguing that the magistrate court lacked the jurisdiction to issue such a directive.
The trial Chief Magistrate, Okechukwu John Akweke, has scheduled March 17 to decide whether the renewed remand order should be set aside.
Court documents indicate that the ICPC requested the extension to enable investigators to complete ongoing inquiries into the allegations raised against the former governor.
A source within the commission maintained that the detention followed due legal process, noting that the agency obtained a valid court order before holding the former governor.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s lawyers insist that the remand order is legally flawed and have filed an application asking the court to declare the earlier detention order null and void.
