Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai was taken into the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday night after spending several hours being questioned by anti‑graft investigators. The detention is part of a long‑running probe into alleged financial wrongdoing during his eight‑year tenure as governor.
El‑Rufai, who now serves as a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), voluntarily appeared at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja in response to an invitation from the agency. Sources said he was grilled mainly over allegations tied to a N432 billion corruption investigation linked to his administration.
The investigation stems from a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused El‑Rufai’s government of misusing large loans, breaching due process in awarding contracts, and leaving the state with heavy financial obligations. The Assembly alleged mismanagement of funds and recommended that anti‑graft agencies take action.
A senior EFCC source told reporters the commission had been looking into the matter for about a year before calling El‑Rufai in for questioning. The detention on Monday night, they said, shows that the case has moved to a more serious phase where investigators want more time to question him thoroughly.
While in EFCC custody, El‑Rufai is also facing separate criminal charges filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The DSS accused him of unlawfully intercepting the private communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, after comments he made during a recent television interview.
The charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, allege that El‑Rufai admitted knowing about and failing to report the alleged interception when he appeared on live TV. National security experts say unlawful phone tapping is a serious offence under Nigerian law.
El‑Rufai has denied wrongdoing in both the financial investigation and the phone‑interception allegations. His aides described his appearance before the EFCC as voluntary and said the commission’s officials were professional during questioning.
His detention has sparked strong reactions. Some supporters have protested outside the EFCC office in Abuja, while critics say the action shows that no public official is above the law.
As of now, there’s no set date for El‑Rufai’s court appearance, and officials say investigations are still ongoing.
