The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has yet to grant bail to Nasir El-Rufai, eight days after his initial detention, a delay that has prompted concern and frustration from his media team.
In a statement on Monday, Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to the former Kaduna State governor, lamented that El-Rufai has remained in custody despite voluntarily reporting to authorities and his legal team fulfilling the necessary bail application procedures.
Adekeye detailed that El-Rufai first responded to an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026. He was held by the EFCC until the night of February 18, when he was transferred to the custody of the ICPC.
According to the statement, the former governor’s lawyers promptly submitted a formal application for bail to the ICPC on February 19. However, Adekeye lamented that the commission has failed to respond to the application, and the legal team has not been shown any valid remand order to justify the continued detention beyond the constitutionally mandated 48-hour period for holding a suspect without charge.
The prolonged detention has sparked a legal battle, with at least two court matters concerning El-Rufai scheduled for this week. A fundamental rights enforcement suit, filed against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the Department of State Services (DSS), is set for hearing on February 25 at the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The suit specifically seeks an order for his admission to bail.
Adding to the legal pressure, El-Rufai is also scheduled to be arraigned on the same date in relation to charges reportedly filed by the DSS.
The statement from Adekeye also highlighted a contentious search of El-Rufai’s residence on Aso Drive by ICPC officials on February 19. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the operation, describing the search warrant as defective and the search itself as unlawful. El-Rufai has approached the Federal High Court to have the warrant invalidated, citing a lack of probable cause and drafting errors, and is seeking to prevent the use of any items seized during the search in future proceedings.
Earlier interactions with the EFCC, between February 16 and 18, saw El-Rufai interrogated and subsequently granted administrative bail with stringent conditions, including the requirement of a serving federal permanent secretary as a surety.
His lawyers applied for a variation of these terms, but he remained in custody. Akpan described the overall situation as unlawful detention and noted that both family members and legal counsel have faced significant difficulties in gaining access to him.
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