Abuja – Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El‑Rufai remained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, marking his second night at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. Sources within the commission indicated that he could be held longer if a competent court grants a remand order.
According to an EFCC insider, investigators conducted another round of questioning focused on El‑Rufai’s eight‑year administration (2015‑2023). “For hours we asked el‑Rufai to respond to a statement by his Commissioner for Finance, who had earlier appeared before EFCC. There are so many documents he has to surf, we will not release him. There are plans to secure a longer remand order from a competent court,” the source said. He added, “There is no cause for alarm at all because el‑Rufai has access to his lawyer and his rights are being protected.”
It remains unclear which of his former finance commissioners was interrogated. During his tenure, Suleiman Abdu Kwari served as Commissioner for Finance from May 2015 to May 2019 before resigning to contest the Kaduna North senatorial seat. He was replaced by Mohammad Bashir Saidu, who had previously been the governor’s Chief of Staff.
Meanwhile, security sources disclosed that the Department of State Services (DSS) is preparing to take custody of El‑Rufai for arraignment on charges related to alleged telephone tapping of National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The secret police have reportedly filed a three‑count charge against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
