Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to Nasir el-Rufai, says the former Kaduna governor suffered an overnight nosebleed while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement issued on Monday night, Adekeye said the commission also prevented el-Rufai from receiving a meal directly from his wife on February 17.
The former Kaduna governor voluntarily 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 el-Rufai into custody after he was released by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agencies are probing el-Rufai over alleged financial improprieties during his tenure as governor of Kaduna state between 2015 and 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna assembly indicted el-Rufai over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering and demanded that he be investigated by anti-graft agencies.
Adekeye said el-Rufai’s legal team has not been shown any remand order authorising his continued detention beyond 48 hours without charge.
He said el-Rufai’s legal team and family 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 reads.
He said on Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court would hear el-Rufai’s fundamental rights enforcement suit against the federal government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is scheduled for arraignment this week for allegedly intercepting the telephone conversation of Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA).
On Monday, el-Rufai sued the ICPC over alleged unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.
