El-Rufai Remains in Custody as ICPC delays bail response, with arraignment and rights hearing fixed for February 25
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai remains in custody as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has yet to respond to his bail application, his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, said in Abuja on Monday.
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Adekeye disclosed that El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, February 16, 2026, following an invitation.
The commission held him until the night of Wednesday, February 18, before transferring him to the ICPC.
According to Adekeye, lawyers representing El-Rufai have not been shown any remand order, despite the 48-hour constitutional limit for holding a suspect without charge having expired.
The legal team has also not received any formal response to an application for bail submitted to the ICPC.
El-Rufai remains in custody ahead of two crucial court proceedings fixed for February 25. On that date, he is scheduled for arraignment on charges filed by the Department of State Services.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court is also set to hear his fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the DSS.
The suit seeks an order admitting him to bail.
In a post on X, Adekeye said eight days had passed since El-Rufai reported to the EFCC. Adekeye maintained that the former governor complied fully with investigators and honoured the invitation voluntarily.
The detention followed a series of events after El-Rufai returned to Nigeria on February 12. Adekeye alleged that officials seized El-Rufai’s passport at the airport during what lawyers described as a failed arrest attempt.
Hours later, the ICPC issued a letter requesting him to report on February 13, though he proposed February 18 for compliance.
Adekeye said the EFCC granted El-Rufai administrative bail between February 16 and 18 under conditions that included providing a serving federal permanent secretary as surety.
However, his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described the continued custody as unlawful and said access to El-Rufai by family members and lawyers was restricted.
On February 19, ICPC operatives searched El-Rufai’s residence on Aso Drive. Akpan criticised the search as unlawful and executed under what he termed a defective warrant.
El-Rufai subsequently filed a suit at the Federal High Court on February 23 challenging the validity of the search warrant.
The action seeks a declaration that the warrant lacked specificity and probable cause, and an order restraining authorities from using items seized during the operation in any proceedings.
Further interrogation by the ICPC continued on February 20, according to Adekeye.
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As El-Rufai remains in custody, the outcome of the February 25 proceedings is expected to shape the next phase of the high-profile legal battle.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
