Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, remains in EFCC custody for a third day as he faces multiple corruption and cybercrime investigations.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has remained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a third consecutive day over allegations of large-scale corruption and embezzlement during his eight-year tenure. He is reportedly under investigation for allegedly misappropriating more than ₦433 billion while serving as governor. Sources said that the EFCC initially granted him administrative bail on the condition that a Permanent Secretary and a Director in a Federal Ministry stand as sureties, but the process stalled after the Permanent Secretary allegedly withdrew due to threats, raising concerns of possible interference.
El-Rufai is scheduled to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning over separate corruption allegations. However, it remains unclear whether he can honour the invitation due to his continued detention by the EFCC. His legal team reportedly informed the ICPC of the circumstances preventing his attendance, while sources indicated that EFCC investigators are continuing to question him over the alleged financial improprieties during his tenure from 2015 to 2023.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Court documents, marked FHC/CR/99/2026, allege that the 65-year-old former governor made incriminating admissions during a February 13, 2026, interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme. Count One alleges that El-Rufai admitted to the unlawful interception, a violation punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
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