Former Kaduna State Gov. Nasir El-Rufai spent a second night in the custody of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency Tuesday as investigators questioned him over an alleged 432 billion naira corruption probe, officials said.
El-Rufai arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, in Abuja around 10 a.m. Monday after being invited for questioning. He has remained in custody since then.
An EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the agency was considering seeking a court remand order to extend his detention beyond the 48 hours allowed by law in order to conclude questioning.
“Forget the speculations being peddled on social media that he has been released. He has not,” the official said. “He is very much with us and will remain so because investigators are considering getting a remand order.”
El-Rufai’s lawyer, A.U. Mustapha, confirmed in a telephone interview that his client remained in custody but said he had fully cooperated with investigators and should be granted bail.
“As a responsible citizen, he was invited and he honoured the invitation,” Mustapha said. “He is cooperating to the best of his capacity, and we hope the EFCC will admit him to bail because he is presumed innocent.”
Mustapha declined to comment on the specific allegations, saying only the EFCC could provide details.
The investigation follows a 2024 report by an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly that examined finances, loans and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023, during El-Rufai’s tenure.
The committee, chaired by Henry Zacharia, alleged that several loans obtained during that period were not used for their intended purposes. While presenting the report, Speaker Yusuf Dahiru Leman said about 423 billion naira was allegedly siphoned under the former administration.
The Assembly recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and some former cabinet members for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering, contract awards without due process and reckless borrowing. Petitions were subsequently sent to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing, describing the probe as politically motivated. He has said loans obtained during his administration were properly appropriated and used for infrastructure, education, health care and security.
An EFCC source said Monday that the commission had been investigating the allegations for about a year and that suspects are typically invited after investigations have reached an advanced stage.
In a separate development, Nigeria’s Department of State Services has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors alleged that El-Rufai admitted during a Feb. 13, 2026, appearance on Arise TV that he and unnamed associates unlawfully intercepted Ribadu’s communications. He has not yet been arraigned.
