El-Rufai has been detained by EFCC over alleged N432bn fraud and is currently facing cybercrime charges for ‘bugging’ NSA Ribadu’s phone.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was detained on Monday night at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja following hours of interrogation over an alleged N432 billion corruption probe.
El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, arrived at the EFCC’s Jabi office around 10am in response to an invitation. However, multiple sources within the anti-graft agency confirmed that he remained in custody late into the night.
A senior EFCC official disclosed that the commission had been investigating the former governor for nearly a year, following allegations raised in a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The report accused his administration of misappropriating loans, breaching due process in contract awards, and plunging the state into significant debt.
“He is still in our custody and wouldn’t be released today,” the source said.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that El-Rufai honoured the invitation but declined to comment on the details of the interrogation.
Assembly Report Alleges N423bn Misappropriation
The probe stems from findings presented by an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly in 2024. The committee alleged that loans obtained between 2015 and 2023 were either misapplied or not used for their intended purposes.
The Speaker of the House, Yusuf Dahiru Leman, alleged that about N423 billion was siphoned during El-Rufai’s tenure, leaving the state with heavy liabilities. The report also referenced disputed payments exceeding N155 million, an alleged diversion of N1.37 billion meant for a light rail project, and purported laundering of N64.8 million by senior aides.
The Assembly subsequently petitioned both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute those involved.
El-Rufai has consistently denied the allegations, describing the investigation as politically motivated and insisting that all loans were duly appropriated for infrastructure, education, healthcare and security projects.
FG Files Cybercrime Charges Over Ribadu Phone Interception
While the EFCC investigation unfolded, the Federal Government filed a separate three-count charge 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.
The charges, filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, allege that El-Rufai admitted during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme that he and unnamed associates intercepted the NSA’s calls.
The prosecution claimed the alleged act compromised national security and created public apprehension. No date has been fixed for his arraignment.
The charges followed El-Rufai’s televised claim that he learned of an alleged plan to arrest him through a leaked conversation from Ribadu’s phone.
DSS Reopens Dadiyata Disappearance Case
In a related development, the Department of State Services has reportedly reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
Security sources said El-Rufai and his sons may be invited for questioning as part of renewed investigations into the unresolved case. His passport was also reportedly seized to prevent him from travelling while inquiries continue.
El-Rufai has previously denied any knowledge of or involvement in Dadiyata’s disappearance.
Protests Erupt in Abuja, Kaduna
Monday’s events sparked protests in Abuja and Kaduna. Demonstrators gathered outside the EFCC headquarters demanding accountability, while supporters of El-Rufai also staged solidarity protests, insisting on due process.
Meanwhile, a coalition of civil society groups in Kaduna called for updates on the legislative probe, urging that justice not be delayed.
Tinubu Praises Ribadu Amid Political Tension
Amid the unfolding legal battle, President Bola Tinubu publicly praised Ribadu during a visit to Adamawa State, describing him as “honest, bold, courageous and committed.”
The President’s remarks came days after El-Rufai wrote a letter seeking clarification over the alleged procurement of thallium sulphate by the Office of the National Security Adviser—an allegation the ONSA has denied.
High-Stakes Legal Battle Ahead
The convergence of EFCC detention, federal criminal charges, DSS investigations and public protests marks one of the most significant political and legal confrontations involving a former governor in recent years.
As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, El-Rufai’s legal battles are likely to intensify political tensions. Whether the cases amount to lawful prosecution based on evidence or political persecution, as his allies claim, will ultimately be determined in court.
For now, the former governor remains in EFCC custody, with his political future hanging in the balance.
