El-Rufai Suffers Nosebleed in Detention, Wife Denied Direct Access to Deliver Meal – Aide

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, reportedly suffered a nosebleed while in detention, as concerns mount over his welfare and continued custody.

His media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, alleging that the former governor has faced restrictions, including being denied direct access to meals brought by his wife.

According to the statement, El-Rufai has been in custody for eight days after voluntarily honouring an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026. He was interrogated and granted administrative bail but remained in custody as his legal team sought a variation of the bail conditions.

Adekeye described the continued detention as unjustified, noting that on the evening of February 17, one of El-Rufai’s wives was prevented from handing his meal to him directly. Instead, she was instructed to pass it through an EFCC official for onward delivery.

The aide further alleged that El-Rufai experienced an overnight nosebleed while in custody, a development his lawyers have cited in raising concerns about his health and access to family members and legal counsel.

He also revealed that on February 18, El-Rufai was transferred from the EFCC to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) without prior notice to him or his legal team.

Since the transfer, his lawyers have reportedly applied for bail from the ICPC but are yet to receive a response. Adekeye added that no remand order has been presented to justify the former governor’s continued detention beyond the constitutionally stipulated period.

El-Rufai is expected to appear in court on February 25 in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS), seeking an order granting him bail.

The aide warned that the alleged treatment of the former governor raises serious concerns about due process and his welfare as legal proceedings commence.