The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is currently in its custody in connection with an ongoing investigation.
In a statement released by the Commission’s Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, the ICPC disclosed that El-Rufai remained in detention as of the close of work on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The agency, however, did not provide specific details regarding the allegations, stating only that the former governor is being held over matters under investigation.
The confirmation marks a fresh twist in the growing legal challenges facing the former Kaduna governor, who has recently been under scrutiny by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Prior to the ICPC development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had questioned El-Rufai over allegations of large-scale financial misappropriation during his eight-year tenure in office. A Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee had earlier accused his administration of allegedly siphoning about ₦432 billion through questionable contracts and suspected money laundering.
El-Rufai has repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting they are politically motivated and describing them as attempts to tarnish his reputation.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has also filed criminal charges against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja over claims that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to court filings dated February 16, 2026, prosecutors allege that El-Rufai admitted during a televised interview to intercepting the NSA’s communications, an act said to contravene provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. Additional counts accuse him of failing to report individuals allegedly involved in the interception and of actions considered capable of compromising national security under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The ICPC has not indicated how long El-Rufai will remain in custody, and no official date has been announced regarding the next stage of the investigation.