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<p>By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa</p><div class="smV5iHCW" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>The legal challenges facing the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, intensified on Wednesday as he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).</p>
<p>The anti-graft agency confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, J. Okor Odey.</p>
<p>&#8220;The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to state that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai the former Governor of Kaduna state is in our custody as at close of work, Wednesday the 18th day of February, 2026,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;Malam Nasiru El-Rufai is in the custody of the Commission in connection with investigations.&#8221;</p><div class="tEMu4stm" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>While the ICPC did not disclose the specific details of the allegations, his detention marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny of his eight-year tenure and follows a recent high-profile arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).</p>
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<p>El-Rufai&#8217;s transfer to ICPC custody comes immediately after he spent two nights with the EFCC over allegations of large-scale corruption and embezzlement. Those allegations stem from a Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee report, which indicted his administration for allegedly siphoning approximately â¦432 billion through questionable contracts and money laundering.</p>
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<p>Sources revealed that while the EFCC had granted the former governor administrative bail, the process was derailed under controversial circumstances. The bail conditions reportedly required a Permanent Secretary and a Director in a federal ministry to stand as sureties. However, after one of the proposed sureties—a Permanent Secretary—arrived at the EFCC office to complete the formalities, the agency allegedly hesitated and later declined to proceed.</p>
<p>Further compounding the issue, it was learned that the Permanent Secretary subsequently withdrew from the process, citing alleged threats. This has raised concerns about possible intimidation and interference in the case.</p>
<p>El-Rufai was scheduled to appear before the ICPC on Wednesday for questioning over separate corruption allegations, leading to his transfer to the commission&#8217;s custody.</p>
<p>In a parallel legal front, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges, filed under suit number FHC/CR/99/2026, allege that the former governor unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.</p>
<p>According to court documents dated February 16, 2026, the prosecution&#8217;s case hinges on comments El-Rufai made during a televised interview on Arise TV&#8217;s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026.</p>
<p>In the first count, the former governor is accused of unlawfully intercepting the NSA&#8217;s phone communications, an offense said to be contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.</p>
<p>The second count alleges that El-Rufai admitted to knowing individuals involved in the interception but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, an offense under Section 27(b) of the same Act.</p>
<p>In the third count, prosecutors allege that El-Rufai and &#8220;others still at large&#8221; used technical systems to compromise public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA&#8217;s phone communications, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.</p>
<p>El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations leveled against him, describing them as politically motivated &#8220;witch-hunts.&#8221; However, with the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS all pursuing separate investigations, the former governor now faces an unprecedented multi-agency legal offensive.</p>
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