Legal Storm Looms as El-Rufai Marks Eighth Day in Custody

​ABUJA – The legal battle surrounding the detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, is set to escalate this week as his legal team prepares for a high-stakes showdown in two separate courts. Today marks eight days since the former governor was taken into custody, a period characterized by shifting jurisdictions, health concerns, and allegations of procedural violations.

​Malam El-Rufai, who voluntarily honored an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026, remains in detention. After three days with the EFCC, he was transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the night of February 18. His media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, revealed in a statement on Monday that the ICPC has yet to respond to a bail application, nor has it produced a valid remand order to justify his continued detention beyond the constitutional 48-hour limit.

​A Week of Judicial Reckoning

​The FCT High Court is scheduled to hear a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by El-Rufai against the Federal Government, ICPC, EFCC, and DSS on February 25. The former governor is seeking an immediate order for his release on bail.

​Simultaneously, El-Rufai is expected to be arraigned before a Federal High Court on Wednesday. The charges, filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024, stem from allegations that he unlawfully intercepted telephone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. The DSS alleges that El-Rufai admitted during a television interview to “wiretapping” the NSA to overhear orders for his arrest.

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​Challenges to “Defective” Search Warrants

​In a fresh legal move today, February 23, El-Rufai petitioned a Federal High Court to invalidate a search warrant used by the ICPC to raid his Aso Drive residence on February 19. His lawyers, led by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, are demanding N1 billion in damages, citing “material drafting errors, overbreadth, and lack of probable cause.” They are also seeking an injunction to prevent the use of any items seized during the raid in future proceedings.

​Timeline of a Fast-Moving Crisis

​The drama began on February 12, when security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his return from Cairo, leading to the seizure of his passport.

​While in EFCC custody earlier last week, his legal team raised alarms over his health, reporting an “overnight episode of bleeding from his nose.” Concerns were also raised regarding restricted access for his family, with reports that one of his wives was barred from delivering his meals directly.

​As the February 25 court date approaches, the case has become a focal point for debates on the rule of law and the limits of state investigative powers in Nigeria.