Trending Now - ICPC Investigates El-rufai Amid Allegations of Wiretapping
WHO:
President Trump (mentioned in context of political climate)
Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State
Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, member of the House of Representatives and son of Nasir El-Rufai
Hadiza Isma El-Rufai, wife of Nasir El-Rufai
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)
David Efuk, Litigation Officer at ICPC
WHAT:
ICPC recovered wiretapping equipment and sensitive security documents from Nasir El-Rufai's residence.
ICPC obtained a legal order to detain Nasir El-Rufai for 14 days, expiring on March 5, 2026.
El-Rufai is facing allegations of corruption, including:
€1.4 million in cash withdrawals with unclear purpose.
180 suspicious payments totaling ₦2,158,799,199 from a Consolidated Revenue Account linked to Kaduna State’s IGR account.
Transfers to undisclosed accounts amounting to ₦428,122,180.18.
El-Rufai filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit against ICPC over the search of his residence.
ICPC claimed that El-Rufai declined to cooperate with investigators and refused to respond to interviews.
WHERE:
El-Rufai's residence located at No. 12 Mambila Street, Aso Drive, Asokoro District, Abuja, Nigeria.
ICPC's operations are based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria.
WHEN:
Search executed on February 19, 2026.
Detention order obtained on February 19, 2026, set to expire on March 5, 2026.
El-Rufai was invited to appear before ICPC on February 13, 2026.
El-Rufai was released to the Department of State Services (DSS) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 18, 2026.
WHY:
The investigation was initiated based on a petition alleging corrupt practices by El-Rufai during his tenure as governor.
Allegations include discrepancies in the state’s debt profile and misuse of public funds.
HOW:
ICPC executed a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Bwari, FCT.
The search was conducted in the presence of El-Rufai's wife and son.
ICPC claimed to have followed due process in inviting El-Rufai for questioning.
In a significant development, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, or ICPC, has recovered wiretapping equipment and sensitive security documents from the residence of Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, who is now facing serious allegations of corruption. The ICPC obtained a legal order to detain El-Rufai for 14 days, which expires on March 5, 2026, after he reportedly declined to cooperate with investigators, and he has since filed a ₦1 billion lawsuit against the commission over the search of his home. This investigation, initiated based on a petition alleging corrupt practices during his governorship, includes claims of €1.4 million in unexplained cash withdrawals and suspicious payments totaling over ₦2 billion linked to Kaduna State’s finances.