The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, over alleged financial improprieties during his time in office.
Sources confirmed that the EFCC detained Nasir El-Rufai on Monday after he voluntarily honoured an invitation at the agency’s headquarters. Investigators are questioning him over allegations of mismanagement and diversion of public funds while serving as governor between 2015 and 2023.
“He is in our custody, and he is going to spend the night there,” a source disclosed.
The detention comes months after the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted El-Rufai in 2024 over the alleged diversion of N423 billion and money laundering. The assembly recommended that anti-graft agencies investigate the former governor.
El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), may be released on Tuesday depending on the progress of the EFCC investigation.
The former governor is also expected to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning on Wednesday.
Last week, security operatives attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai alleged that Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, directed the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him.
On Monday, the DSS filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation. He is expected to be arraigned in court.
As investigations intensify, political tensions are rising over the EFCC’s move to detain El-Rufai.
