…ICPC has not provided any response to his lawyers concerning their bail application.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has yet to respond to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s bail application, his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, said on Monday.
El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, February 16, following an official invitation. He remained in EFCC custody until the night of Wednesday, February 18, when he was transferred to the ICPC.
Adekeye noted that El-Rufai’s lawyers have not been shown any remand order, despite the 48-hour limit for holding a person without charge having expired.
In a post on X on Monday, Adekeye said El-Rufai is scheduled for arraignment on February 25 on charges brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). On the same day, the Federal Capital Territory High Court will hear his fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS, seeking an order to admit him to bail.
Adekeye wrote:
“Today marks eight days since Malam Nasir El-Rufai was detained. He voluntarily reported to the EFCC on the morning of Monday, February 16, 2026, in response to an invitation. He has been in custody since, first at the EFCC until the night of Wednesday, February 18, when he was transferred to the ICPC.
“As of today, his lawyers have not received any response from the ICPC regarding their bail application, nor have they been shown any remand order, even though the 48-hour window for holding a person without charge has expired.
“This week, the courts will handle at least two matters concerning Malam El-Rufai. His fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS is set for hearing on February 25 at the FCT High Court, seeking an order to grant him bail.
“He is also scheduled for arraignment on the same day for the widely publicised charges filed by the DSS.”
The detention follows a series of events after El-Rufai returned to Nigeria on February 12. According to Adekeye’s timeline, his passport was seized at the airport during a failed arrest attempt, which his lawyers described as unlawful. Hours later, the ICPC issued a letter asking him to report on February 13, but he proposed to comply on February 18.
Between February 16 and 18, El-Rufai remained in EFCC custody, despite being granted administrative bail under conditions that included having a serving federal permanent secretary as surety. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described the continued detention as unlawful and said access by family and lawyers was restricted.
On February 19, the ICPC conducted a search of El-Rufai’s residence on Aso Drive. Akpan condemned the search as “unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights,” claiming it was carried out under a defective warrant. He added that their subsequent bail application has yet to receive a response.
Adekeye said El-Rufai filed a suit at the Federal High Court on February 23, seeking a declaration that the search warrant was invalid due to lack of particularity, ambiguity, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause. The suit also requests that any items seized during the search be excluded from use in proceedings against him.
Further interrogation by the ICPC continued on February 20, according to Adekeye.
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