Former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai is in custody at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after hours of questioning over alleged financial misconduct during his time in office.
Sources said he arrived at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja around 10am on Monday and was interrogated over claims raised in a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The report accused his administration of misusing loans, breaching contract rules, and leaving the state with heavy debt.
A senior EFCC official said investigators had worked on the case for about a year before inviting him. By late Monday night, another source confirmed he remained in custody and would not be released that day. EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed he honoured the invitation but gave no details.
Lawmakers alleged about ₦423bn was siphoned during his tenure from 2015 to 2023. The panel also cited disputed payments, contract breaches, and the alleged diversion of funds meant for a rail project. It urged anti-corruption agencies to investigate and prosecute him and former officials.
El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing, saying the probe is political and that loans taken under his government funded development projects.
