Tension Rises: Aide Reveals Fresh Details About El-Rufai’s Detention By ICPC

In a statement released on Thursday, Adekeye explained that El-Rufai has been in the custody of federal authorities since February 16, 2026, when he voluntarily presented himself at the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Two days later, on the night of February 18, he was transferred to the ICPC.

According to Adekeye, the anti-graft agency secured a 14-day remand order on February 19, allowing it to keep the former governor in custody until March 5. However, he said the commission has not indicated whether it intends to formally charge El-Rufai in court before the remand period expires.

He added that El-Rufai’s legal team has already filed court actions challenging both the remand order and the search warrant executed by the ICPC during a raid on the former governor’s residence on February 19.

Adekeye also dismissed claims by the ICPC that wiretapping equipment was recovered during a search conducted at El-Rufai’s home on March 2. The family, he said, described the allegation as false and vowed to pursue legal action against the commission for what their lawyers termed defamatory claims.

The aide further disclosed that the case contesting the legality of the search warrant was heard on March 3 before Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court adjourned the matter until March 11 to allow all parties involved to be properly served.

In the suit, El-Rufai is asking the court to invalidate the search warrant, arguing that it lacks specificity, contains drafting errors, and was issued without sufficient probable cause. He is also seeking a declaration that the search violated his fundamental rights, along with an order preventing authorities from using any items recovered during the operation as evidence against him. ⚖️📰