Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson for Nasir El-Rufai, has said the former Kaduna State governor suffered a nosebleed while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement issued late Monday, Mr. Adekeye said Mr. El-Rufai experienced an overnight episode of bleeding from his nose.
He also alleged that on February 17, one of El-Rufai’s wives was not allowed to hand over his meal to him directly but was asked to pass it through a commission official.
“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 read.
El-Rufai presented himself at the EFCC headquarters on February 16 following an invitation from the agency.
On February 18, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) took him into custody after his release by the EFCC.
Both agencies are investigating him over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused him of misappropriating N423 billion and engaging in money laundering and called on anti-corruption agencies to investigate him.
Adekeye said El-Rufai’s lawyers have not been presented with any remand order authorising his detention beyond 48 hours without charge.
He added that his legal representatives and relatives were experiencing difficulty in gaining access to him.
He said, “His legal representatives and relatives are having difficulties in securing access to him in detention.”
Adekeye said the Federal Capital Territory High Court will on Wednesday hear El-Rufai’s suit seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights against the Federal Government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS).
He added that El-Rufai, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is expected to be arraigned this week over allegations that he intercepted a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser.
El-Rufai has also filed a suit against the ICPC, alleging that the agency unlawfully raided his Abuja residence.
