A Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari granted the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission an order to detain former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai for another 14 days. The court issued the fresh remand warrant on Thursday.
As reported by ALO360, this extension gives investigators more time to conclude their work on allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.
Commission Obtains Remand Order
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission applied for the additional detention period through its counsel. The court granted the application as prayed. The order stated “Application granted as prayed. That the Applicant i.e. the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission ICPC is hereby ordered to re-detain the Respondent Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai for additional 14 days to enable the commission conclude investigation activities.”
El-Rufai Remains in Custody
Nasir el-Rufai first entered Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission custody on February 19. The agency secured an initial 14-day remand order at that time. When the first period ended, the commission returned to court for this new extension.
Counsel to Nasir el-Rufai Ubong Akpan opposed the continued holding. He filed an application to set aside the remand order. “The purported 14-day remand order expired on March 4 and the continued confinement is patently illegal,” Akpan stated. He demanded that authorities charge his client or set him free.
Probe Focuses on Governor Tenure
The anti-graft agency examined decisions and transactions made during Nasir el-Rufai’s administration in Kaduna State. Investigators recovered documents and items from his residence during an earlier search. Meanwhile the case attracted attention across Nigeria.
Chief Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke presided over the proceedings. The judge fixed March 17 to decide on the application to nullify the order and March 19 as the return date for compliance. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission offered no immediate comment on when it would file formal charges.
