ADC Demands El-Rufai's Release or Arraignment

The African Democratic Congress has demanded the immediate release or court arraignment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who has been held in custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for more than a month without formal charges. The party's call, issued on Wednesday, highlights concerns over the legality of his detention, which began on February 19, 2026, in Abuja.

El-Rufai, a prominent political figure and chieftain of the ADC, returned to Nigeria from Cairo, Egypt, on February 12, 2026. Four days later, he honored an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to answer questions about alleged financial improprieties during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. The EFCC granted him administrative bail on February 19, but he was immediately transferred to ICPC custody that same day. The ICPC is investigating claims of money laundering, abuse of office, and the diversion of N432 billion in state funds. Separately, the Department of State Services has filed cybercrime charges against him for allegedly accessing intercepted phone conversations of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, linked to an...