Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over reports surrounding the detention and health of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Concerns were raised after claims emerged that El-Rufai experienced a nosebleed while being held by anti-corruption authorities following an invitation for questioning on February 16, 2026. His media aide stated that although El-Rufai was questioned and granted administrative bail, he remained in custody while his legal team sought a review of the bail conditions.
According to the account, El-Rufai’s continued detention was unnecessary, and restrictions were allegedly placed on his access to family members. It was also claimed that he experienced a health episode overnight, which heightened concerns about his wellbeing and access to medical care and legal counsel.
Further issues were raised after El-Rufai was reportedly transferred from one anti-corruption agency to another without prior notice to him or his lawyers. His legal team was said to have applied for bail following the transfer, but no response had been received, with no remand order presented to justify his continued detention.
Reacting publicly, Atiku Abubakar said the situation surrounding El-Rufai’s health and detention was troubling and demanded clarity from the Federal Government on which agency currently has custody of the former governor. He warned that secrecy in such matters could fuel public suspicion and undermine confidence in the justice system.
Atiku stressed that any agency holding El-Rufai has a constitutional duty to protect his safety, dignity, health, and access to family and legal representatives. He added that if authorities cannot guarantee these rights, El-Rufai should be granted bail without delay, warning that the government would be held accountable if anything happened to him.
The former vice president also expressed concern over what he described as growing perceptions of selective prosecution, arguing that anti-corruption efforts must not be weaponised against opposition figures. He said investigations must be transparent, fair, and free from political bias to maintain public trust.
Meanwhile, the anti-corruption agency currently holding El-Rufai has denied claims that he suffered a nosebleed while in custody, dismissing the allegation as untrue. Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing over alleged financial misconduct during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
El-Rufai was previously indicted by the Kaduna State House of Assembly over alleged financial irregularities and is also expected to face legal proceedings over separate claims related to national security matters.
