Muyiwa Adekeye, the Media Adviser to former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday gave an update on the detention of the former governor, stating that he has been in custody for eight days.
In a statement shared via El-Rufai’s personal social media accounts, Adekeye said Malam Nasir El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the EFCC on Monday, 16th February 2026, in response to an invitation and was held by the EFCC until the night of Wednesday, 18 February, when he was transferred to the ICPC.
According to the statement, his lawyers have yet to receive a response from the ICPC regarding a bail application. It also noted that they have not been shown any remand order, despite the expiration of the 48-hour window for holding a person without charge.
Adekeye disclosed that two court matters relating to Malam El-Rufai are scheduled for hearing this week. Hearing in his fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS has been fixed for 25th February before the FCT High Court. The suit is seeking an order admitting him to bail.
The former governor is also scheduled for arraignment on the same date on charges filed by the DSS.
Providing a timeline of events, the statement said that on 19th February, officials of the ICPC searched his residence on Aso Drive. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the search “as unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights”, adding that the home invasion was conducted under a defective warrant.
Following the search, Tribune Online reports that El-Rufai approached a Federal High Court on 23rd February, asking the court to declare the search warrant invalid.
The suit, filed to enforce his fundamental rights, named the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
“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. He is also asking for 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,” the statement said.
The statement further said that Malam El-Rufai underwent further interrogation by the ICPC on 20th February. An application for bail was submitted but has not received any response.
Between 16th and 18th February, Adekeye said Malam El-Rufai honoured the EFCC invitation and was granted administrative bail with conditions, including the requirement of a serving federal permanent secretary as one of the sureties. His lawyers applied for a variation of the bail terms, but he remained in EFCC custody. Ubong Akpan described the situation as unlawful detention without justification.
Adekeye also stated that lawyers and family members faced difficulties in accessing him while in custody, alleging that one of his wives was prevented from delivering his meal directly to him on the evening of 17th February and had to pass it through a commission official. The lawyers also reported that he experienced an overnight episode of nose bleeding.
On the night of 18th February, Malam Nasir El-Rufai was transferred to the ICPC without being informed of the reason for the move, the statement added.
The aide also referenced events of 12th February, when Malam El-Rufai’s passport was seized at the airport during what his lawyers described as a failed attempt to arrest him. The lawyers condemned the seizure as unlawful, noting that he had already notified the only agency that had invited him that he would appear on 16th February. No official statement has been issued by any security agency regarding the airport incident.
Adekeye further stated that the ICPC had delivered a letter on 12th February requesting that Malam El-Rufai report to its office on 13th February. Through his lawyers, he responded that he would honour the invitation on Wednesday, 18th February, citing prior commitments and a scheduled appearance at the EFCC on 16th February.