Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to Nasir El-Rufai, has said the former Kaduna State governor suffered an overnight nosebleed while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement on Monday night, Adekeye also claimed that El-Rufai was denied direct access to a meal from his wife on February 17, being asked instead to receive it through EFCC personnel.
El-Rufai voluntarily presented himself at the EFCC headquarters on February 16 following an agency invitation.
He was later released but subsequently taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on February 18.
The anti-graft agencies are probing El-Rufai over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted him for the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, calling on anti-graft agencies to investigate.
Adekeye added that El-Rufai’s legal team has not been shown any remand order authorising detention beyond 48 hours without charge.
He noted that family members and lawyers are facing difficulties securing access to him.
“One of his wives was not allowed to deliver his meal directly and had to pass it through commission staff. His lawyers also reported an overnight episode of nosebleed,” the statement said.
El-Rufai is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the federal government, EFCC, ICPC, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
He is also expected to be arraigned over allegations that he intercepted a call involving Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, and has filed a separate suit against the ICPC over an alleged unlawful entry into his Abuja residence.
