Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed concerns over his continued detention without a remand order, revealing that his legal team has yet to receive any response to a formal bail application submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).
In a statement issued on Monday night by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former governor’s camp disclosed that Monday marked eight days since El-Rufai was taken into custody after voluntarily honouring an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The statement read, “Today marks eight days since Malam Nasir El-Rufai was detained. He voluntarily reported at the EFCC in the morning of Monday, 16th February 2026 in response to an invitation. He has been held since, first by the EFCC which kept him in custody until the night of Wednesday, 18 February when he was moved to the ICPC.
“As at today, his lawyers have not received any response from the ICPC to an application for bail; and they have not been shown any remand order as the 48-hour window for holding a person without charge has expired.”
According to the statement, the week promises to be legally significant for the former governor as at least two court matters concerning him are scheduled.
“Hearing in his fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the DSS has been fixed for 25th February. This case, which is before the FCT High Court, is seeking an order to admit him to bail,” Adekeye noted.
El-Rufai is also scheduled for arraignment on the same date was widely publicised and charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The statement further provided a detailed chronology of events beginning from his return to Nigeria on February 12, 2026.
On 23rd February, following a February 19 search of his Aso Drive residence by ICPC officials, El-Rufai approached the Federal High Court seeking to invalidate the search warrant.
“Following the 19th February 2026 search of his residence by officials of the ICPC, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has asked a Federal High Court to declare the search warrant as invalid,” Adekeye said.
The suit reportedly names as respondents the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The case is seeking “a declaration that the search warrant is invalid, for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth and lack of probable cause.”
It also seeks “a declaration that the search constitutes a violation of his fundamental human rights and an injunction against the use of the items taken in the search in any proceedings against him.”
Detailing events of February 19, Adekeye disclosed that ICPC officials searched El-Rufai’s Aso Drive residence.
His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, was quoted as condemning the search “as unlawful and clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights,” adding that the home invasion was conducted under “a defective warrant.”
The statement also confirmed that El-Rufai was further interrogated by ICPC officials on February 20.
It added that “an application for bail was submitted, but has had no response, so far.”
The statement continues, “16th- 18th February, Malam El-Rufai voluntarily attended the offices of the EFCC as he had indicated in response to the commission’s invitation. Following interrogation by EFCC officials, he is granted administrative bail with conditions that included having a serving federal permanent secretary as one of the sureties.
“His lawyers applied for variation of the bail terms. He remained in the EFCC’s custody, a situation that his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described as unlawful detention without justification.
“Ubong Akpan also complained that lawyers and family were having difficulties in securing access to him in detention. One of his wives was not allowed to deliver his meal directly to him in the evening of 17th February but was asked to pass it to him through one of the commission’s personnel. His lawyers have reported that he suffered an overnight episode of bleeding from his nose.
“On the night of 18th February, Malam El-Rufai was transferred to the custody of the ICPC without being told where he was being moved or why.”
According to Adekeye, ” On 12th February, Malam El-Rufai’s passport was snatched at the airport, during a failed attempt to arrest him, a seizure his lawyers condemned as unlawful. This aborted arrest prompted surprise, given that he had already notified the only agency that had invited him as of that moment that he would be attending their office on 16th February. No formal statement has been issued by any security agency to explain the drama at the airport.
“ICPC delivers a letter asking him to report at their office the next day, 13th February. Malam El-Rufai responded through his lawyers that he proposed to honour the invitation on Wednesday, 18th February given the rather short notice and the other activities to which he was committed. In addition, he had already scheduled an appearance at the EFCC on 16th February, the next available business day,” he added.
Sahara Reporters