News
Eight Days in Detention: Nasir El-Rufai’s Lawyers Say ICPC Has Not Responded To Bail Application As 48-Hour Limit Expires
However, no formal explanation was issued by any security agency.
Abuja, Nigeria– The camp of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised fresh 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).
“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.”
The statement noted that the courts are scheduled to hear at least two matters concerning Malam El-Rufai this week. On 25th February, the FCT High Court is set to hear his fundamental rights suit against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS, seeking an order for his admission to bail.
On the same date, he is also slated for arraignment on charges filed by the DSS, which have attracted widespread public attention.
12th February 2026 – Upon returning to Nigeria, Malam El-Rufai’s passport was reportedly seized at the airport during what his lawyers described as a failed arrest attempt.
However, no formal explanation was issued by any security agency.
ICPC subsequently delivered a letter requesting him to report the next day, which he deferred to 18th February due to prior commitments, including a scheduled EFCC appearance.
16th–18th February – Malam El-Rufai voluntarily attended the EFCC offices on 16th February. Following interrogation, he was granted administrative bail requiring a federal permanent secretary as a surety.
Meanwhile, his lawyers applied to vary the bail terms, but he remained in EFCC custody.
His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described this as “unlawful detention without justification.” Family members reportedly faced difficulties in delivering meals, and Malam El-Rufai experienced an overnight episode of nasal bleeding.
On the night of 18th February, he was transferred to ICPC custody without being informed of the reasons or location.
19th February – ICPC officials conducted a search of his residence on Aso Drive. Mr. Akpan condemned the search as “unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights,” citing a defective warrant.
An interrogation by ICPC followed, and an application for bail was submitted, but no response has been received to date.
20th February – Malam El-Rufai underwent further interrogation by the ICPC.
23rd February – In response to the 19th February search, Malam El-Rufai filed a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court seeking to have the search warrant declared invalid.
The suit names the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents. It seeks declarations that the warrant was overbroad, ambiguous, defective, and lacked probable cause, and requests an injunction against the use of items seized during the search in any proceeding.
