El-Rufai Accuses ICPC, DSS Of Demanding Political Exit For Release

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a private criminal complaint before a Magistrate Court in Abuja, accusing top officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) of unlawful detention and attempts to force him out of political participation.

In the suit, El-Rufai named ICPC chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, and DSS director-general, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, alongside three other categories of officials, as accused persons.

The 30-page complaint, filed pursuant to Sections 88, 89 and 90 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, alleges that the former governor has been subjected to “unlawful detention” since February 18, 2026, without being formally charged before any court of competent jurisdiction.

According to the filing, El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, where he provided a statement and cooperated with investigators. He was subsequently granted administrative bail.

However, he alleged that before bail conditions could be completed, DSS operatives, acting on the directive of the agency’s leadership, “unlawfully rendered and transferred” him from EFCC custody to the ICPC on the night of February 18.

The complaint further stated that his continued detention was based on a remand order issued on February 19 by a Magistrate Court in Bwari, which he argued was invalid. He maintained that the order was “void ab initio for want of jurisdiction,” noting that allegations of money laundering fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

El-Rufai also claimed that the remand order was never served on him or his legal counsel, adding that the 14-day detention period granted by the order expired on March 4, 2026.

“Since that date, the Complainant’s detention has been entirely without any legal basis whatsoever,” the filing stated.

In a particularly weighty allegation contained in Paragraph 12 of the complaint, El-Rufai claimed that ICPC officials informed him that his release was conditional upon withdrawing from politics.

“During the period of his unlawful detention, the Complainant has been informed by officers of the ICPC… that his release is conditional upon him ceasing all political activities and refraining from participating in the political process,” the document reads.

The former governor argued that such a demand “constitutes an unlawful attempt to compel the Complainant to abandon his constitutional rights.”

The complaint also alleged that he has been held incommunicado, with restricted access to family members and legal representatives, and denied access to his personal physicians despite pre-existing medical conditions.

Additionally, El-Rufai accused the ICPC chairman of authorising and supervising his continued detention “despite knowing that the Remand Order is void,” while the DSS Director-General was accused of playing a “central official role” in orchestrating his transfer from EFCC custody.

The suit listed wrongful confinement as the first count against the accused persons, citing Section 264 of the Penal Code, and wrongful restraint under Sections 265 and 266 as the second count.

He is asking the court to take cognisance of the alleged offences and issue necessary processes against the accused officials.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the ICPC nor the DSS has issued a response to the allegations.