El-Rufai's Custody Raises Health and Legal Concerns

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been in custody for eight days following an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 16, 2026. His aide, Muyiwa Adekey, raised concerns about El-Rufai's health, reporting that he suffered a nosebleed during his detention and was denied direct access to food from his wife, who attempted to deliver meals.

El-Rufai's legal team has sought a review of his bail conditions, describing the situation as unjustifiable and excessive. They argue that there is no valid remand order justifying his continued detention beyond constitutional limits.

El-Rufai is expected to appear in federal high court on February 25, where he will challenge the legality of the search conducted at his Abuja residence, claiming it was unlawful and lacked proper legal basis. His legal team is also seeking damages for psychological trauma and reputational harm caused by the incident.