Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, has spent a second night in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as investigators continue questioning him over an alleged N432bn corruption probe linked to his eight-year administration.
El-Rufai arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 10 a.m. on Monday following an invitation by the anti-graft agency.
He was subsequently detained as interrogations continued into Tuesday, amid indications that the commission may seek a court-backed remand order to extend his stay beyond the statutory 48 hours allowed for detention without a court order.
An EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, dismissed reports circulating on social media that the former governor had been released.
“Forget the speculations being peddled on social media that he has been released.
“He has not. El-Rufai is still with us and will be spending another night in custody,” the source said.
According to the official, investigators are considering applying for a remand order to enable them to conclude questioning.
“The investigators need some time with him to answer questions arising from his eight years as governor in Kaduna State,” the source added.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, A.U. Mustapha, confirmed in a telephone interview on Tuesday that his client remained in EFCC custody but insisted that the former governor had fully cooperated with investigators.
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“Well, as a responsible citizen, he was invited and, true to his word, he honoured the invitation.
“As we speak, he is still with the EFCC. He is cooperating to the best of his capacity, and we hope that the EFCC, given its integrity, will be kind enough to admit him to bail because he is presumed innocent”, Mustapha said.
The senior advocate described his client as a responsible citizen who poses no flight risk.
“He came to Nigeria on his own volition. He wrote a letter that he was going to honour the EFCC invitation, and he kept his word as a man of integrity. We’re hopeful that very soon he will be granted bail,” he added.
However, Mustapha declined to comment on the specifics of the allegations or details of the interrogation.
“You’re asking the right question from the wrong person. That question can only be answered by the EFCC and not by me. I would just be speculating, and lawyers don’t do that,” he said, adding that discussing the interrogation would be prejudicial and confidential.
The EFCC’s investigation followed a 2024 report by an ad hoc committee of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which probed 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 by the state during the period were not utilised for their intended purposes.
While presenting the report, the Speaker of the House, Yusuf Leman, claimed that about N423bn was allegedly siphoned under the former governor’s administration.
The panel recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and some former cabinet members over alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering, contract awards without due process and reckless borrowing.
The Assembly subsequently forwarded petitions to both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El-Rufai has consistently denied the allegations, describing the legislative probe as politically motivated.
He has maintained that loans obtained during his administration were properly appropriated and channelled into infrastructure, education, healthcare and security projects.
An EFCC source had earlier disclosed that the commission had been investigating the matter for about a year before inviting the former governor for questioning.
“As a commission, we don’t just rush to invite suspects. Persons accused are always the last; that is, after we might have done our investigation to an advanced stage. We are investigating him on the allegations against him by the Kaduna State Assembly,” the source said.
