Former Kaduna Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai was held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for 14 days starting February 17, 2026 — the longest detention of any former Nigerian governor in recent memory.

What the ICPC Found

According to multiple sources cited by Premium Times and TheCable, investigators found what they described as wiretapping equipment in El-Rufai's Abuja residence during a search on February 18. The ICPC did not publicly confirm or deny this claim. Senior security officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the equipment was sophisticated and capable of intercepting mobile and broadband communications within a one-kilometre radius.

The search was conducted under a court-issued warrant signed by a Federal High Court judge in Abuja. El-Rufai's legal team contested the warrant's validity, arguing it was broadly worded and constitutionally defective. The court dismissed their application to quash the warrant on February 20.

The Thallium Letter

A letter allegedly containing threats involving thallium — a toxic heavy metal historically used in political assassinations — was reportedly sent to the National Security Adviser's office in early February, days before El-Rufai's detention. El-Rufai has not commented on the letter. His spokesperson described the claim as "fabricated to justify an unlawful detention."

The NSA's office acknowledged receipt of a "threat communication" in a terse statement but declined to provide further details, citing ongoing security investigations. Independent analysts have noted that thallium poisoning was used in at least two documented political cases in West Africa between 2010 and 2020.

“I am exercising my constitutional right to silence,” El-Rufai told investigators, according to his legal team.

Released Without Charge

El-Rufai was released on March 2 without being formally charged. The ICPC cited "ongoing investigations" without elaborating. His legal team called the detention politically motivated and vowed to pursue a suit for unlawful detention and damages at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case has reignited debate about the independence of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria. Opposition figures from the APC, SDP and LP have issued joint statements condemning what they describe as the "weaponisation of prosecutorial institutions." The ruling APC has not responded officially to the joint statement.

El-Rufai was the Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under President Olusegun Obasanjo. He has been a vocal critic of the current administration since defecting from the APC in late 2024.