The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why it has yet to charge the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, to court, despite his three-day interrogation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Rufai was held in EFCC’s custody for two nights, from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18, over corruption allegations levelled against him.
A source close to the commission told NAN that the former governor was still under investigation by the commission, hence he could not be charged in court yet.
The source said the commission would not rush to court over the grievous allegation, but would want to do a thorough and professional job of it before being charged in court.
“We are still investigating the former governor; we are yet to conclude our investigations, before he was released on bail last Wednesday.
“Though he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), we immediately released him. We will continue our investigations after he completes the ICPC.
“We will then charge him in court after the completion of our investigations of various allegations levelled against him,” the source said.
The EFCC initially held the former governor from Monday, Feb. 16, when he honoured its invitation, until the night of Wednesday, Feb.18.
He was released on Wednesday night on administrative bail by the commission, but was later taken into custody by the ICPC.
One of his aides, Muyiwa Adekeye, had said in a statement that his principal, as of Tuesday, had spent nine days in the custody of the two anti-graft agencies.
Adekeye said that as of Monday, El-Rufai’s lawyers had not received any response from the ICPC, where he is currently being held, to an application for bail submitted on his behalf.
He added that the commission had also not shown them any remand order authorising his continued detention, despite what he described as the expiration of the 48-hour constitutional window for holding a person without charge.
Vanguard News
The post Why we’re yet to charge El-Rufai to court – EFCC appeared first on Vanguard News.
