The media adviser to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, has said the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has not responded to his principal’s bail application eight days after his detention. In a statement posted on X on Monday night, Adekeye wrote, “Today marks eight days since Malam Nasir El-Rufai was detained. He voluntarily reported at the EFCC in the morning of Monday, February 16, 2026, in response to an invitation.”
According to him, El-Rufai was initially held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until the night of February 18, when he was moved to ICPC custody. “As at today, his lawyers have not received any response from the ICPC to their application for bail; and they have not been shown any remand order as the 48-hour window for holding a person without charge has expired,” Adekeye added.
Court Proceedings
The aide said at least two court matters involving the former governor are scheduled for hearing this week. He stated, “The hearing in his fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the DSS has been fixed for 25th February. This case, which is before the FCT High Court, is seeking an order to admit him to bail.”
He added that El-Rufai “is scheduled for arraignment on the same date on the widely publicised charges filed by the DSS.” Adekeye also disclosed that El-Rufai has approached the Federal High Court to challenge the legality of a search conducted at his Abuja residence on February 19. He said the suit seeks 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.”
The former governor is also asking the court to rule that the search violated his fundamental rights and to restrain authorities from using items recovered during the operation in any proceedings against him.
