El-Rufai Suffers Nosebleed, Wife Blocked From Delivering Meal in Custody – Aide

Kaduna State’s former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, reportedly suffered a nosebleed while in custody, and his wife was prevented from delivering his meal directly, according to his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye.

In a statement on Monday, Adekeye said El-Rufai has been in detention for eight days following his voluntary appearance before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026. He was interrogated and granted administrative bail but remained in custody while his lawyers sought a variation of the bail conditions.

“On the evening of February 17, one of El-Rufai’s wives attempted to deliver his meal, but she was instructed to hand it over to an EFCC official rather than giving it to him directly,” Adekeye said. He added that El-Rufai “suffered an overnight episode of nosebleeding, which his lawyers have cited as part of their concerns about his health and access to family and legal counsel.”

Adekeye further revealed that on February 18, El-Rufai was transferred from EFCC custody to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) without prior notice to him or his legal team. “Since his transfer, bail applications at the ICPC have not been responded to, and no remand order has been shown to justify his continued detention beyond the constitutionally permitted period,” he said.

El-Rufai is scheduled to appear in court on February 25 in a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Federal Government, ICPC, EFCC, and the Department of State Services, seeking an order granting him bail. Adekeye warned that the circumstances “raise serious questions about his welfare and the observance of due process as legal proceedings commence.”