El-Rufai bleeds in custody, wife stopped from reaching him

Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised alarm over his principal’s welfare in detention, alleging that he suffered a nosebleed while in custody and that his wife was prevented from handing over his meal directly to him.

In a statement issued on Monday, Adekeye disclosed that El-Rufai has remained in custody for eight days after voluntarily honouring an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on February 16, 2026.

According to him, although the former governor was interrogated and granted administrative bail by the commission, he has continued to be held while his legal team seeks a variation of the bail conditions — a development the aide described as unjustified.

Adekeye further alleged that on the evening of February 17, one of El-Rufai’s wives was stopped from delivering his meal to him in person and was instead instructed to hand it over to an official of the anti-graft agency for onward delivery.

He also revealed that El-Rufai experienced an overnight nosebleed while in detention, an incident his lawyers have reportedly cited in raising concerns over his health and access to family members and legal counsel.

The aide added that on the night of February 18, El-Rufai was moved from the custody of the EFCC to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission without prior notice to either him or his lawyers.

Adekeye noted that since the transfer, his legal team has applied for bail from the ICPC but is yet to receive a response, adding that no remand order has been presented to justify his continued detention beyond the constitutionally stipulated period.

He disclosed that El-Rufai is expected to appear in court on February 25 in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Federal Government, ICPC, EFCC and the Department of State Services, seeking an order for his release on bail.

Adekeye warned that the alleged treatment of the former governor raises serious concerns over his welfare and adherence to due process as legal proceedings commence.