Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Wednesday released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but was immediately taken into custody by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Sources at the EFCC confirmed to thewatchng on Wednesday night that the former governor had been released after days of detention but was shortly picked up by ICPC operatives.
El-Rufai had arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 10 a.m. on Monday for questioning and remained in custody until Wednesday.
“We have released him today, but he was shortly picked up after he was released by ICPC,” a source disclosed.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the ICPC were unsuccessful, as calls to its spokesman, John Odey, were not answered.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, A. U. Mustapha (SAN), declined to confirm or deny the development when contacted. “It is too late to talk. Let’s talk tomorrow,” he said.
His media aide, Muyiwa Adeleye, could not be reached as his line was unavailable.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly been on standby ahead of his arraignment over alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the reopened investigation into the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
On Monday, the Federal Government filed criminal charges against El-Rufai before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged unlawful interception of the NSA’s phone communications.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The government accused El-Rufai of admitting during a February 13, 2026 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme that an unnamed associate unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s phone communications and that he listened to them.
In count one, the Federal Government alleged that El-Rufai admitted to unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s communications, an offence punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act.
Count two accused him of knowingly associating with an individual who unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s communications without reporting the act to authorities, contrary to Section 27(b) of the Act.
Count three alleged that El-Rufai and others still at large used technical equipment in Abuja in 2026 to unlawfully intercept the NSA’s communications, an offence punishable under Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act.
During the television interview, El-Rufai had said: “Ribadu made the call because we listened to their calls. The government thinks that they are the only ones who listen to calls. But we also have our ways.”
Separately, the DSS has reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State, who was declared missing on August 1, 2019, after gunmen reportedly abducted him from his Kaduna residence. His whereabouts remain unknown.
A security source alleged that the DSS recently seized El-Rufai’s passport at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to prevent him from travelling abroad.
Investigators are also reportedly examining social media posts made by El-Rufai’s sons, Bello and Bashir, following Dadiyata’s disappearance. According to a source, the sons may be invited to assist with the ongoing investigation.
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