Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is yet to receive a response from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on his application for bail, according to his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye.
Adekeye said El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, February 16, 2026, following an invitation. He was held in EFCC custody until the night of Wednesday, February 18, when he was transferred to the ICPC.
According to Adekeye, El-Rufai’s lawyers have not been shown any remand order, despite the 48-hour constitutional window for holding a person without charge having elapsed. He added that no response has been received from the ICPC regarding the bail application submitted on his behalf.
In a post on X, Adekeye disclosed that El-Rufai is scheduled for arraignment on February 25 on charges filed by the Department of State Services. On the same day, the Federal Capital Territory High Court is expected to hear his fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS, seeking an order admitting him to bail.
Providing a timeline of events, Adekeye said El-Rufai’s ordeal began after his return to Nigeria on February 12, when his passport was allegedly seized at the airport during what his lawyers described as a failed and unlawful arrest attempt. Hours later, the ICPC invited him to report on February 13, but he proposed February 18.
Despite being granted administrative bail by the EFCC—reportedly under conditions including a serving federal permanent secretary as surety—El-Rufai remained in custody between February 16 and 18. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described the continued detention as unlawful, alleging restricted access to family and legal counsel.
On February 19, the ICPC searched El-Rufai’s residence on Aso Drive. Akpan condemned the action as unlawful, claiming it was conducted with a defective warrant. Adekeye added that El-Rufai subsequently filed a suit at the Federal High Court on February 23, challenging the validity of the search warrant and seeking to bar the use of any items seized. Further interrogation by the ICPC reportedly continued on February 20.
