Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, has disclosed that el-Rufai experienced a nosebleed overnight while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement released on Monday night, Adekeye also alleged that the EFCC prevented el-Rufai from receiving a meal directly from his wife on February 17.
El-Rufai voluntarily appeared at the EFCC headquarters on February 16 following an invitation from the agency. He was later taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18 after his release from EFCC detention.
The former governor is under investigation by the anti-graft agencies for alleged financial misconduct during his tenure from 2015 to 2023. In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly had indicted el-Rufai over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, calling for a probe by the relevant anti-corruption bodies.
Adekeye added that el-Rufai’s legal team has not been presented with any remand order authorizing his detention beyond 48 hours without formal charges. He said el-Rufai’s legal team and family are “having difficulties in securing access to him in detention”.
“One of his wives was not allowed to deliver his meal directly to him on the evening of 17th February, but was asked to pass it to him through one of the commission’s personnel. His lawyers have reported that he suffered an overnight episode of bleeding from his nose,” the statement reads.
He said on Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court would hear el-Rufai’s fundamental rights enforcement suit against the federal government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS).