Ex-Kaduna Governor El-Rufai Raises Alarm Over Continued Detention, Says Bail Request Ignored

 Ex-Kaduna Governor El-Rufai Raises Alarm Over Continued Detention, Says Bail Request Ignored

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed concern over his continued detention, alleging that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has failed to respond to his bail application eight days after he was taken into custody.

In a statement released on Monday night by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai’s camp disclosed that the former governor has been in detention since February 16, 2026, after voluntarily honouring an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the statement, El-Rufai was initially held by the EFCC before being transferred to the custody of the ICPC on February 18. His legal team said that despite submitting a formal bail application, they have received no response and have not been presented with any remand order authorising his continued detention beyond the legally permitted 48 hours.

Adekeye noted that the coming days would be crucial, as a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by El-Rufai against the Federal Government, ICPC, EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS) is scheduled for hearing on February 25 at the FCT High Court. The suit seeks an order granting him bail.

The former governor is also expected to be arraigned on the same date over charges reportedly filed by the DSS.

The statement further revealed that following a search of El-Rufai’s residence on Aso Drive, Abuja, by ICPC officials on February 19, he approached the Federal High Court to challenge the validity of the search warrant. His lawyers described the operation as unlawful, citing alleged defects in the warrant and violations of his fundamental rights.

El-Rufai’s legal team also raised concerns over restricted access to him while in custody, adding that family members and lawyers faced difficulties seeing him. The statement disclosed that he reportedly suffered a nosebleed during detention.

Detailing earlier events, the statement recalled that El-Rufai’s passport was seized at the airport on February 12 during what his lawyers described as a failed arrest attempt. They argued that the action was unnecessary, as he had already communicated his intention to honour official invitations.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the ICPC nor other security agencies involved had issued an official response to the allegations.