Ex-Governor El-Rufai To Spend Night In EFCC Custody Over Alleged N423billion Fraud, Says Official
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, following his arrival at the agency’s Abuja headquarters on Monday. El-Rufai, who served from 2015 to 2023 and is now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), presented himself after an official invitation.
An EFCC source confirmed his status to the media, stating, “He is in our custody, and he is going to spend the night there.” Insiders suggested that his potential release on Tuesday depends entirely on the progress of interrogations and the outcome of the ongoing questioning.
This detention follows a 2024 indictment by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused his administration of diverting approximately N423 billion. Lawmakers previously urged anti-graft agencies to launch a criminal investigation into these allegations of public fund diversion and money laundering.
Beyond financial misconduct, the 65-year-old politician faces a new legal battle regarding the unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. Court documents filed under charge number FHC/CR/99/2026 list the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant against the former governor.
The prosecution’s case is reportedly built on admissions El-Rufai allegedly made during a televised interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026. The charge sheet, dated February 16, 2024, claims these admissions link him to violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act.
Count One specifically alleges that the former governor admitted to intercepting the NSA’s communications, an act punishable under Section 12(1) of the 2024 Cybercrimes Act. This development marks a significant escalation in the legal scrutiny surrounding one of Nigeria’s most prominent and vocal political figures.
The EFCC has not yet released an official public statement regarding the detention or the specifics of the ongoing interrogation as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Federal Government is moving forward with plans to formally arraign El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
