Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has yet to receive any official response from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding his bail application, according to his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye.
Adekeye disclosed on Monday that it has been eight days since the former governor was detained, with no communication from the ICPC to his legal team concerning their application for bail.
He also stated that the lawyers have not been presented with any remand order authorising continued detention beyond the constitutionally stipulated 48-hour period without charge.
“Today marks eight days since Malam Nasir El-Rufai was detained. 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,” Adekeye wrote on X.
El-Rufai had voluntarily honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16. He was held in EFCC custody until February 18, when he was transferred to the ICPC.
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According to his aide, the former governor is scheduled to be arraigned on February 25 on charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). On the same day, the FCT High Court is expected to hear his fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Federal Government, ICPC, EFCC, and DSS, in which he is seeking an order granting him bail.
A timeline of events provided by his team shows that El-Rufai returned to Nigeria on February 12, during which his passport was reportedly seized in what his associates described as a failed arrest attempt. The following day, February 13, the ICPC issued a letter requesting that he report to its office.
Between February 16 and 18, he remained in EFCC custody despite reportedly being granted administrative bail under conditions that included providing a serving federal permanent secretary as surety.
On February 19, ICPC operatives conducted a search of his Aso Drive residence in Abuja. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described the action as unlawful and a violation of established legal procedures and his client’s fundamental rights.
Interrogations reportedly continued on February 20. By February 23, El-Rufai had filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging the validity of the search warrant, arguing that it was ambiguous, overly broad, and lacked probable cause.
Akpan further criticised what he described as prolonged detention, alleging restricted access to family members and legal representatives. He added that the bail application submitted after the search of the residence has yet to receive any official response from the ICPC.
As the February 25 arraignment date approaches, attention remains focused on the legal proceedings and whether the court will address the pending bail application and fundamental rights claims.