A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Usman Austin, has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to either arraign former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in court or release him without further delay.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, Austin expressed concern over El-Rufai’s continued detention, urging the commission to adhere strictly to due process and uphold the rule of law.
He referenced the approach of the Department of State Services (DSS), noting that the agency had recently sought judicial intervention in handling similar matters rather than resorting to arbitrary detention.
“The decision of the DSS to approach a court of law rather than resorting to arbitrary detention is both civil and democratic,” Austin said. “The proper way to handle such matters is to allow the court to decide through merit-based arguments from both the prosecutor and the defendant.”
Austin maintained that any allegations against El-Rufai should be addressed transparently in court, stressing that anti-corruption efforts must not undermine constitutional rights.
He also pointed out that El-Rufai had previously honoured an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing the former governor as cooperative with investigative authorities.
“The EFCC is yet to clarify the circumstances surrounding this custody—whether Mallam El-Rufai was officially handed over to the ICPC or re-arrested after being granted administrative bail. This ambiguity undermines the rule of law,” Austin stated.
He further argued that arresting an individual before commencing an investigation amounts to a violation of the right to a fair hearing, warning that anti-corruption agencies must avoid actions that could be perceived as oppressive.
“The ICPC must uphold the standards of a civilised society. If there is a case against El-Rufai, let it be argued in court. If not, he must be released immediately,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, sources at the EFCC confirmed that the former governor was released by the commission but was shortly thereafter taken into custody by operatives of the ICPC.
El-Rufai had reportedly arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 10 a.m. on Monday for questioning and remained there until Wednesday.
The ICPC, however, confirmed in a statement signed by its Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, that the former governor remains in its custody as of the close of work on February 18, 2026, in connection with an ongoing investigation.
