Former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is being questioned by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja over alleged financial misconduct involving about N432 billion. As of yesterday, it remained unclear whether he would be released or spend the night at the commission’s headquarters.
An EFCC source confirmed that el-Rufai was with investigators but declined to state how long the interrogation would last. The probe is linked to loans obtained during his tenure as governor, which a Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee alleged were mismanaged or utilized without due process. El-Rufai has denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has filed a three-count charge against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The charges, filed by prosecutors from the Department of State Services, allege violations of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. No date has yet been fixed for his arraignment.
Political reactions have followed the development. Former presidential spokesman Umar Sani described el-Rufai’s actions as calculated political engagement aimed at challenging those in power, portraying him as a central figure within the opposition.
Tension also erupted at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, where pro- and anti-el-Rufai supporters clashed. EFCC operatives reportedly fired teargas to disperse the crowd, with fumes drifting into the nearby Federal Medical Centre, Jabi. Pregnant women, children, patients, and caregivers were reportedly affected, leading to panic within the hospital premises.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion as patients struggled to breathe and sought shelter from the choking smoke. Concerns were raised about the safety implications of deploying teargas so close to a major health facility.
At press time, the EFCC had not issued an official statement on the protest incident or the ongoing interrogation.
