TIMELINE: El-Rufai in custody for eight days as legal battles intensify

Malam Nasir El-Rufai has remained in detention for eight days after voluntarily honouring an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026.

In an update issued on February 23 by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, the former Kaduna State governor was said to have first been held by the EFCC before being transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the night of February 18.

According to the statement, El-Rufai’s legal team has not received any response to an application for bail submitted to the ICPC, and has not been shown any remand order authorising his continued detention beyond 48 hours without charge.

The statement disclosed that two court matters relating to El-Rufai are scheduled for hearing this week. A fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS) is set to be heard on February 25 at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, where he is seeking to be admitted to bail. He is also billed for arraignment the same day on charges filed by the DSS.

The update further revealed that El-Rufai has approached a Federal High Court challenging the legality of a February 19 search of his Aso Drive residence by ICPC officials. The suit, which names the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents, is seeking a declaration that the search warrant was invalid and that the operation violated his fundamental rights. He is also asking the court to restrain authorities from using items recovered during the search in any proceedings against him.

The statement recounted that El-Rufai was interrogated by ICPC officials on February 19 and 20, following his transfer from EFCC custody. An application for bail was submitted to the ICPC but, as at the time of the update, had not received a response.

Providing details of his earlier detention, the statement said El-Rufai was granted administrative bail by the EFCC after interrogation between February 16 and 18, with conditions that included providing a serving federal permanent secretary as surety. His lawyers applied for a variation of the bail terms, but he remained in custody. It was also alleged that his lawyers and family experienced difficulties gaining access to him, and that one of his wives was not permitted to deliver his meal directly on the evening of February 17. His lawyers further reported that he suffered an episode of nosebleed overnight while in detention.

The statement added that prior to his detention, El-Rufai’s passport was allegedly seized at an airport on February 12 during what was described as a failed attempt to arrest him. The action was condemned by his lawyers as unlawful. On the same day, the ICPC issued an invitation requesting his appearance on February 13, but his legal team responded that he would honour it on February 18 due to prior commitments, including a scheduled visit to the EFCC on February 16.

Adekeye said the coming days could prove decisive as court proceedings begin and the legal processes surrounding El-Rufai’s detention continue to unfold.