ICPC gets court order to detain el-Rufai for two more weeks

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the extension of the order to detain a former Governor of Kaduna State,  Mallam Nasir el-Rufai for another 14 days.

This is order was granted to enable the anti-graft agency enough time to conclude its investigation into allegations against the former governor, which has now widened.

The latest order, which was granted on Thursday in the presence of el-Rufai’s lawyer, will lapse on March 19th.

But el-Rufai’s counsel, whose application to quash the first remand order was dismissed by a Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari,  has returned to the same court to nullify the latest order.

The trial Chief Magistrate, Okechukwu John Akweke has fixed March 17th to decide whether or not he should set aside the latest detention order.

Contrary to media hype and the claims of some  lawyers, the Chief Magistrate Court records obtained by THE NATION revealed that the renewal of el-Rufai’s detention for fresh 14 days was granted on Thursday with the ex-governor duly represented.

The order of Chief Magistrate Akweke reads: “Upon hearing and listening to the prosecuting counsel Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha Esq. praying this Honourable court for the following orders:

“An order of this Honourable Court issuing a remand warrant against the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in favour of the Applicant i.e. Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to detain the Respondent (NASIR AHMAD EL-RUFAI) in its custody for another fourteen (14) days pending conclusion of investigation activities on allegations of Money Laundering/abuse of office.