Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has remained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the third day running amid allegations of massive corruption during his time in office.
El-Rufai is being investigated over claims that more than ₦433 billion was misappropriated during his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that although the EFCC granted him administrative bail, it was conditional on a Permanent Secretary and a Director in a federal ministry standing as sureties. However, when the Permanent Secretary reportedly appeared at the commission’s headquarters to complete the bail process, the agency was said to have delayed and eventually declined to proceed with the arrangement.
The official later withdrew from the bail process, allegedly citing threats, a development that has raised concerns about possible intimidation surrounding the case.
El-Rufai is also expected to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for questioning over separate corruption allegations. It remains unclear whether he will be able to honour the invitation due to his continued detention by the EFCC. His legal team has reportedly informed the ICPC of his inability to attend.
In a related development, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed criminal charges against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges, marked FHC/CR/99/2026 and dated February 16, 2026, list the Federal Republic of Nigeria as complainant and El-Rufai, 65, as the sole defendant.
The case stems from allegations that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to court documents, prosecutors claim that during a February 13, 2026 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, El-Rufai made statements amounting to admissions of involvement in the alleged interception.
The first count accuses him of admitting to unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
The second count alleges that he acknowledged knowing and associating with individuals who intercepted the NSA’s phone communications without reporting them to security agencies, in violation of Section 27(b) of the same Act.
A third count accuses El-Rufai and others still at large of using technical systems to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, thereby compromising national security, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The prosecution team representing the DSS includes Ernest O.M., Owan O.M., U.M. Bulla, C.S. Eze (PhD), and E.G. Orubor.
