Chronicle of the Custody of Malam Nasir El-Rufai | 23 February 2026

Today marks eight days since Malam Nasir El-Rufai was detained. He had voluntarily reported at the EFCC in the morning of Monday, 16th February 2026 in response to an invitation. He has been held since, first by the EFCC which kept him in custody until the night of Wednesday, 18 February when he was moved to the ICPC. As at today, his lawyers have not received any response from the ICPC to an 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.

This week, the courts would entertain at least two matters related to Malam El-Rufai. Hearing in his fundamental rights case against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the DSS has been fixed for 25th February. This case, which is before the FCT High Court, is seeking an order to admit him to bail.

He is scheduled for arraignment on the same date on the widely publicized charges filed by the DSS.

As what may be an eventful week begins, here is a recap of the fast-moving events since Malam El-Rufai returned to the country on 12th February 2026.

23rd February
Following the 19th February 2026 search of his residence by officials of the ICPC, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has asked a Federal High Court to declare the search warrant as invalid. The case, which seeks the enforcement of his fundamental rights, named as respondents the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT, the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The case is seeking a declaration that the search warrant is invalid, for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth and lack of probable cause. He is also asking for a declaration that the search constitutes a violation of his fundamental human rights and an injunction against the use of the items taken in the search in any proceedings against him.

20th February
• Further interrogation by ICPC.

19th February
• ICPC searched the Aso Drive residence of Malam Nasir El-Rufai. Mr. Akpan condemned the search “as unlawful and clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights”. He said that the home invasion was conducted under adefective warrant.

• Interrogation by ICPC officials. An application for bail was submitted, but has had no response, so far.

16th- 18th February:
• Malam El-Rufai voluntarily attended the offices of the EFCC as he had indicated in response to the commission’s invitation. Following interrogation by EFCC officials, he is granted administrative bail with conditions that included having a serving federal permanent secretary as one of the sureties. His lawyers applied for variation of the bail terms. He remained in the EFCC’s custody, a situation that his lawyer, Ubong Akpan, described as unlawful detention without justification.

• Ubong Akpan also complained that lawyers and family were having difficulties in securing access to him in detention. One of his wives was not allowed to deliver his meal directly to him in 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.

• On the night of 18th February, Malam El-Rufai was transferred to the custody of the ICPC without being told where he was being moved or why.

12th February:
• Malam El-Rufai’s passport was snatched at the airport, during a failed attempt to arrest him, a seizure his lawyers condemned as unlawful. This aborted arrest prompted surprise, given that he had already notified the only agency that had invited him as of that moment that he would be attending their office on 16th February. No formal statement has been issued by any security agency to explain the drama at the airport.

• ICPC delivers a letter asking him to report at their office the next day, 13th February. Malam El-Rufai responded through his lawyers that he proposed to honour the invitation on Wednesday, 18th February given the rather short notice and the other activities to which he was committed. In addition, he had already scheduled an appearance at the EFCC on 16th February, the next available business day.

On Wednesday, Malam El-Rufai is expected to appear at the Federal High Court, Central Business District, Abuja, as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.