Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson for Nasir El-Rufai, stated that the former Kaduna governor suffered a nosebleed overnight while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement released late Monday, Adekeye also alleged that the Commission stopped El-Rufai’s wife from handing him food personally on February 17.
El-Rufai had turned himself in at the EFCC headquarters on February 16 after receiving an invitation from the anti-corruption agency.
Two days later, on February 18, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, took him into custody following his release by the EFCC.
Both anti-graft bodies are investigating El-Rufai over alleged financial misconduct during his time as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused El-Rufai of misappropriating N423 billion in public funds and engaging in money laundering, urging anti-corruption agencies to launch a probe.
Adekeye stated that El-Rufai’s lawyers have yet to be presented with any remand order permitting his detention beyond 48 hours without formal charges.
He added that the former governor’s legal representatives and relatives 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 said.
Adekeye further noted that on Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory High Court will 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.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, stalwart is expected to be arraigned this week over allegations that he intercepted a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, NSA.
On Monday, El-Rufai also filed a lawsuit against the ICPC, accusing the agency of unlawfully raiding his Abuja home.
