Fresh concerns have been raised over the wellbeing of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following claims that he experienced a nosebleed while in detention and has faced restrictions on access to food brought by his family.
In a statement released on Monday, his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, said the former governor has been in custody for eight days after voluntarily responding to an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026.
According to the statement, El-Rufai was questioned by EFCC officials and later granted administrative bail. However, he has allegedly remained in custody as his legal team seeks a review of the bail conditions — a development his aide described as unwarranted.
Adekeye further claimed that tensions rose on February 17 when one of El-Rufai’s wives attempted to personally hand over food to him but was reportedly instructed to give it to an EFCC officer instead of delivering it directly.
The aide also alleged that El-Rufai suffered a nosebleed overnight while in detention, heightening concerns among his lawyers about his health, safety, and access to family members and legal representatives.
He added that on February 18, the former governor was reportedly transferred from EFCC custody to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) without prior notice to him or his legal team. Since the transfer, his lawyers have applied for bail at the ICPC but are yet to receive a response.
Adekeye maintained that authorities have not presented any valid remand order to justify El-Rufai’s continued detention beyond constitutionally permitted timelines.
The former governor is expected to appear before the Federal High Court on February 25 in a fundamental rights enforcement case filed against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the Department of State Services (DSS). The suit seeks an order granting him bail.
Earlier reports indicated that El-Rufai also filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging what he described as an unlawful search of his residence by ICPC officials and police officers.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed on February 20, reportedly alleges that operatives entered his Abuja home on February 19 using what his legal team described as a defective search warrant.
Through his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai argued that the warrant lacked proper details, contained significant errors, and failed to establish probable cause, thereby rendering the search unconstitutional.
Court documents also claim that officials seized documents and electronic devices without providing a proper inventory, actions his lawyers argue violated provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the ICPC Act, and constitutional protections related to privacy, dignity, personal liberty, and fair hearing.
In the suit, El-Rufai is seeking declarations nullifying the search, the return of all confiscated materials, restrictions on the use of any evidence obtained during the operation, and ₦1 billion in damages, including legal costs.
His legal team insists that the events have caused him significant emotional distress, reputational harm, and psychological trauma, while the latest allegations regarding his detention continue to draw public attention to the handling of the case.