- His lawyer maintained that his client has cooperated fully with investigators and should be granted bail
- The Department of State Services has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai
- Mustapha declined to provide details, saying only the EFCC could clarify the substance of the claims
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday spent a second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as efforts continue to secure his release on bail.
Eko Hot Blog exclusively reports that his lawyer, A.U. Mustapha (SAN), confirmed that the former governor remains with the anti-graft agency following his appearance at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday morning.
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El-Rufai had honoured an invitation from investigators in connection with an alleged N432 billion corruption probe, but was subsequently detained for further questioning.
Sources within the commission indicated that officials may seek a court-approved remand order once the legally permitted detention period expires, to allow more time for interrogation.
According to an official who spoke anonymously, investigators require additional time to address issues arising from El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
Mustapha, however, maintained that his client has cooperated fully with investigators and should be granted bail.
He described El-Rufai as a law-abiding citizen who voluntarily returned to Nigeria and formally notified authorities of his intention to honour the EFCC’s invitation. The senior advocate expressed optimism that the commission would admit him to bail, stressing that he is presumed innocent and not a flight risk.
When asked about the specific allegations, Mustapha declined to provide details, saying only the EFCC could clarify the substance of the claims. He also refrained from commenting on the content of the interrogation, citing confidentiality.
The investigation reportedly stems from a 2024 report by an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which reviewed financial transactions, loans, and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 during El-Rufai’s administration. The committee, chaired by Henry Zacharia, alleged that several loans obtained within that period were misapplied.
While presenting the report, Speaker Yusuf Dahiru Leman claimed that about N423 billion was allegedly diverted under the former administration.
The committee recommended that El-Rufai and certain former cabinet members be investigated and prosecuted over alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering, irregular contract awards, and reckless borrowing. Petitions were subsequently forwarded to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El-Rufai has consistently rejected the allegations, describing the probe as politically driven. He insists that all loans secured during his tenure were duly appropriated and invested in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security projects.
An EFCC source disclosed that the commission had been examining the matter for about a year before inviting the former governor for questioning, noting that suspects are typically contacted after investigations reach an advanced stage.
In a separate development, the Department of State Services has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The three-count charge, filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, alleges that El-Rufai admitted during a February 13, 2026, television interview that he and others intercepted the NSA’s phone communications.
The prosecution claims the alleged actions compromised national security and created public concern. He has yet to be arraigned before the court.
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