Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has not received any response from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding his application for bail, according to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye.
El-Rufai reportedly honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, where he was taken into custody. He remained with the anti-graft agency until the evening of February 18, when he was transferred to the ICPC.
Adekeye stated that although his principal has been in detention for over a week, his legal team has not been presented with any remand order. He argued that the constitutional 48-hour limit for holding a suspect without charge had already expired without formal justification.
He further disclosed that El-Rufai is scheduled to be arraigned on February 25 on charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). On the same day, the Federal Capital Territory High Court is expected to hear a fundamental rights enforcement suit he filed against the Federal Government, ICPC, EFCC and DSS, seeking an order for his release on bail.
The detention followed his return to Nigeria on February 12. According to his aide, his passport was seized at the airport during what his lawyers described as an unsuccessful arrest attempt. Subsequently, the ICPC invited him for questioning, while he remained in EFCC custody despite reportedly being granted administrative bail under certain conditions.
Adekeye also alleged that the ICPC conducted a search of El-Rufai’s Abuja residence, which his counsel challenged as unlawful, citing defects in the warrant. A separate suit has reportedly been filed at the Federal High Court contesting the validity of the search and seeking to prevent the use of any recovered items in future proceedings.
