- Nasir El-Rufai’s lawyer demands his release or immediate trial
- Accuses ICPC of running a smear campaign against the former governor
- Says detention has exceeded 20 days without formal charges
- Peter Obi urges government to stop persecution of political opponents
Counsel to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to either release his client or charge him to court, accusing the anti-graft agency of conducting a smear campaign against him.
The legal team of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has demanded his immediate release or formal arraignment, insisting that his continued detention without charges violates Nigeria’s constitutional provisions.
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In a statement issued on Monday, Ubong Akpan, counsel to El-Rufai, accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of spreading unverified reports alleging that the former governor owns multi-billion-naira properties in Egypt.
According to Akpan, the reports circulating in the media were “baseless leaks” aimed at justifying what he described as the unlawful detention of his client.
“The allegations being circulated are unverified and rely on anonymous sources. They appear to be part of a politically motivated smear campaign rather than a genuine investigation,” Akpan stated.
The lawyer revealed that El-Rufai had initially reported voluntarily to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, where he was granted administrative bail.
However, he alleged that two days later, on February 18, the former governor was taken into custody by operatives reportedly acting under the authority of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Akpan argued that the continued detention of his client has now exceeded 20 days without formal charges, describing the situation as a violation of the 1999 Constitution, which requires suspects to be brought before a court within a reasonable time.
He also questioned the legality of a 14-day remand order said to have been issued by a magistrate’s court on February 19, claiming the court lacked jurisdiction over the alleged offences and that the order expired on March 4.
“The continued confinement of my client without due process is illegal,” the lawyer said.
Akpan further alleged that officials acting under the authority of ICPC Chairman Musa Aliyu attempted to pressure El-Rufai to withdraw from political activities, warning him that he could face prolonged detention if he refused.
Meanwhile, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to stop what he described as the persecution of political opponents under the guise of criminal investigations.
Obi urged authorities to ensure that investigations and prosecutions are conducted transparently and in accordance with the rule of law.