Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai spent Monday night in detention at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja following over 12 hours of grilling over an alleged N432 billion fraud probe.
El-Rufai, who arrived at the commission’s Jabi office around 10am in response to an invitation, was still in custody as of late Monday, with an EFCC official confirming: “He is still in our custody and will not be released today.”
The marathon interrogation session focused on findings from a 2024 Kaduna State House of Assembly report that accused his administration of misappropriating loans, breaching due process in contract awards, and burdening the state with unsustainable debt.
A senior EFCC source disclosed that investigations had been ongoing for approximately one year before the former governor was summoned.
“As a commission, we do not rush to invite suspects. Persons accused are usually invited after investigations have reached an advanced stage,” the source explained. “We are investigating him based on the allegations raised by the Kaduna State House of Assembly.”
The probe follows an investigation by an ad hoc committee chaired by Henry Zacharia, which examined loans, financial transactions, and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
Presenting the report during plenary, Speaker Yusuf Leman alleged that approximately N423 billion was mismanaged, significantly worsening the state’s debt profile.
The committee recommended prosecution of the former governor and several ex-cabinet members over allegations including abuse of office, contract irregularities, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and reckless borrowing.
Specific allegations cited in the report include disputed cash payments and contracts exceeding N155 million, alleged diversion of N1.37 billion earmarked for a light rail project, and purported laundering of N64.8 million by senior aides.
The Assembly subsequently petitioned both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to pursue the matter.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the former governor honoured the commission’s invitation but declined to provide details of the interrogation or indicate the commission’s next steps.
El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the probe as politically motivated. He maintains that all loans obtained during his tenure were properly appropriated and utilised for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security development across the state.
Discussion about this post