The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has denied a claim by Muyiwa Adekeye, a media aide to Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, that the latter suffered nosebleeding overnight in its custody.

Mr El-Rufai has been detained by the ICPC since February 18 after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission where he spent two nights.

Mr Adekeye in a statement on Tuesday said Mr El-Rufai’s legal team had not been shown any remand order authorising his continued detention in ICPC’s custody beyond 48 hours without charge.

He added that Mr El-Rufai’s legal team and family were “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,” Mr Adekeye said.

The ICPC told Peoples Gazette on Tuesday that Mr Adekeye’s claim was a lie.

“The allegation that he (El-Rufai) bled from his nose yesterday while in the custody of the ICPC is not true please,” Okor Odey, spokesperson for the ICPC told our correspondent on Tuesday.

The ICPC and the EFCC are probing Mr El-Rufai over alleged financial impropriety during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted Mr El-Rufai in 2024 over alleged diversion of N432 billion in public funds and money laundering and recommended his prosecution.

The State Security Service would arraign the former governor this week over his claim on national television that he listens to the conversations of the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, after tapping his phone. 

Meanwhile, Mr Adekeye in a statement on Tuesday said the Federal Capital Territory High Court would hear Mr El-Rufai’s fundamental rights enforcement suit against the federal government, the ICPC, the EFCC and the SSS.