EFCC detains ex-Kaduna Gov. El-Rufai amidst N432bn fraud investigation

Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, was taken into custody on Monday night by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a lengthy interrogation session at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

El-Rufai, who arrived at the commission’s Jabi facility around 10 am in response to an official invitation, remained in detention as night fell.

A senior EFCC official confirmed his continued custody, stating, “He is still in our custody and wouldn’t be released today.”

The investigation against the former governor, now a member of the African Democratic Congress, originates from a damning 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The legislative probe alleged widespread misappropriation of loans, procedural violations in contract awards, and fiscal mismanagement that plunged the state into significant debt during his two terms in office from 2015 to 2023.

The inquiry was based on findings from an Assembly ad hoc committee.

Presenting the report, committee chairman Henry Zacharia claimed that a substantial portion of loans obtained under El-Rufai’s administration was not applied to their designated purposes.

Subsequently, Speaker Yusuf Dahiru Leman informed lawmakers that an estimated N423 billion was allegedly misappropriated, leaving the state with a heavy debt burden.

The committee’s recommendations included the prosecution of the former governor and key cabinet members on allegations encompassing abuse of office, contract fraud, money laundering, and the diversion of public funds.

These findings were formally petitioned to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Specific financial allegations detailed in the report include disputed cash payments and contracts exceeding N155 million, the alleged diversion of N1.37 billion allocated for a light rail project, and purported money laundering of N64.8 million by senior aides.

While El-Rufai has consistently refuted the allegations, labeling them politically motivated and asserting that all loans were lawfully appropriated for developmental projects, Monday’s detention signals a significant intensification of the EFCC’s probe.

In a concurrent development, the Federal Government has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The three-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026), filed under the Cybercrimes Act and the Nigerian Communications Act, relates to the alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The charges stem from comments El-Rufai made during a February 13, 2026, television interview, where he claimed that he and associates had access to a leaked conversation from Ribadu’s phone. Prosecutors allege he admitted to the interception and failed to report knowledge of the crime to authorities, with another count stating the act compromised public safety and national security. A date for his arraignment has yet to be set.

The alleged phone tapping has sparked concerns over national security breaches. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga accused El-Rufai of attempting to inflame political tensions and divert attention from the corruption allegations.

He stated that the former governor’s claims were aimed at creating unrest and deflecting scrutiny from the “massive corruption allegations” in Kaduna State.

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has reopened its investigation into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, known as Dadiyata, a lecturer who was reportedly abducted from his Kaduna home and has not been seen since. Security sources disclosed that the DSS recently prevented El-Rufai from leaving the country by seizing his passport at the Abuja airport as investigations continue.

Authorities are also examining social media posts made by the former governor’s sons following Dadiyata’s disappearance, amidst claims the missing lecturer was a vocal critic. El-Rufai has denied any knowledge of or involvement in the case.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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