The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is yet to give former Kaduna state governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai a response regarding his bail application, his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, said on Monday.
El-Rufai voluntarily reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday, February 16, after receiving an invitation.
He was held at the EFCC till Wednesday night, February 18, when he was moved to the ICPC.
Adekeye’s lawyers claim they have not been shown a remand order, despite the fact that the 48-hour period for keeping a person without charge has expired.
In a Monday post on X, Adekeye noted that El-Rufai is set to be arraigned on February 25 on accusations filed by the Department of State.
On the same day, the Federal Capital Territory High Court will hear his fundamental rights complaint against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS, which seeks an order to admit him to bail.
Adekeye wrote, “Today marks eight days since Malam Nasir El-Rufai was detained. He voluntarily reported at the EFCC on the morning of Monday, 16th February 2026, in response to an invitation. He has been held since, first by the EFCC, which kept him in custody until the night of Wednesday, 18 February, when he was moved to the ICPC.
“As of today, his lawyers have not received any response from the ICPC to their application for bail, and they have not been shown any remand order as the 48-hour window for holding a person without charge has expired.
“This week, the courts would entertain at least two matters related to Malam El-Rufai. Hearing in his fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC, and the DSS has been fixed for 25th February. This case, which is before the FCT High Court, is seeking an order to admit him to bail.
“He is scheduled for arraignment on the same date on the widely publicized charges filed by the DSS.”
The detention follows a series of events since El-Rufai returned to Nigeria on February 12.
The detention is the culmination of a series of events that began on February 12, when El-Rufai returned to Nigeria.
According to Adekeye’s timeline of events, El-Rufai’s passport was confiscated at the airport following a botched arrest attempt, which his attorneys deemed illegal.
Hours later, the ICPC sent him a letter asking for a report on February 13.
El-Rufai proposed to comply on February 18.
Adekeye alleged that he remained in EFCC custody from February 16 to 18, despite being granted administrative release with the condition of having a serving federal permanent secretary as surety.
His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned his continuing arrest as illegal and said that family and lawyers’ access to him was limited.
On February 19, the ICPC raided El-Rufai’s home on Aso Drive.
Akpan condemned the search as “unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights,” saying it was executed under a defective warrant.
He also stated that an application for bail lodged later has yet to receive a response.
According to Adekeye, El-Rufai then filed a complaint in the Federal High Court on February 23, seeking a declaration that the search warrant was illegal due to a lack of particularity, ambiguity, overbreadth, and the absence of probable cause.
The complaint also seeks to restrict the use of goods obtained during the search in any further proceedings against him.
According to Adekeye, the ICPC continued its interrogation on February 20.
