In an escalation of high-profile legal proceedings, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after being released from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The development comes amid overlapping investigations by multiple security and anti-graft agencies, raising speculation that the Department of State Services (DSS) remains poised to take further action.
According to a statement issued late Wednesday by the ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey, El-Rufai “is in the custody of the Commission in connection with investigations” as of the close of work on February 18, 2026. The anti-corruption agency has not yet revealed the full details of the allegations against the former governor, who served Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.
El-Rufai’s entanglement with federal agencies began earlier this week when he voluntarily presented himself at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday to respond to allegations linked to alleged financial improprieties during his tenure. He spent two nights in EFCC detention before being granted bail on Wednesday evening. Moments after his release, operatives reportedly took him into custody again in connection with a separate probe.
The situation has drawn attention to the interplay between Nigeria’s top investigative and security agencies:
ICPC Investigation: The anti-corruption commission’s custody of El-Rufai is part of an ongoing probe whose specifics have not yet been outlined publicly. Observers note this suggests a scrutiny of his actions while in office.
EFCC Inquiry: Prior to ICPC custody, the EFCC had been questioning El-Rufai over alleged financial irregularities – including alleged misappropriation and improper awards of state funds – flagged by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2024.
DSS Involvement: Although the DSS has denied holding the former governor, the agency earlier filed cybercrime charges at a Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing El-Rufai of unlawfully intercepting communications of the National Security Adviser — a charge rooted in comments he made during an interview.
The close proximity of these actions – EFCC questioning, DSS legal filings, and ICPC detention – has fueled speculation that the DSS remains “waiting in the wings” to assert its own role in the matter once the current ICPC procedures conclude. Sources say intelligence and security aspects of the case could yet draw the DSS deeper into the process.
El-Rufai’s legal team has condemned the multiple detentions, stating that they are arbitrary and threatening his constitutional rights. The former governor’s lawyers have demanded the return of his travel documents and threatened legal action where due process is not observed.
The accusations swirling around El-Rufai encompass a complex array of financial and security issues:
Financial Misconduct: Following a formal indictment by the Kaduna State House of Assembly alleging diversion of billions of naira during his governorship, federal agencies have pursued investigations into alleged misuse of public funds.
Cybercrime Charges: The DSS has filed charges against El-Rufai under Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act for allegedly intercepting sensitive communications — a move his camp has strongly denied.
At press time, El-Rufai remains under ICPC custody in Abuja, and neither charges nor bail conditions have been made public. Legal observers and political analysts are watching closely to see whether the DSS will formally take over proceedings, especially if ICPC concludes its current phase of inquiry without pressing charges.
