The Federal Government on Tuesday escalated legal action against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, filing fresh criminal charges as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission questioned him in Abuja over an alleged N432 billion loan probe.
El-Rufai arrived at the EFCC headquarters earlier in the day and was still with investigators as of press time. An EFCC source confirmed he was being interrogated but declined to state how long the session would last.
The anti-graft agency is investigating loans obtained during his administration between 2015 and 2023. A Kaduna State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee had alleged that portions of the loans were mismanaged or utilized without due process. El-Rufai has denied the allegations, describing the probe as politically motivated.
In a separate development, the Federal Government filed a three-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing El-Rufai of unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to court filings, prosecutors allege that during a February 13 appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme, he admitted knowledge of the unlawful interception of the NSA’s telephone conversations. The charges cite provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, alleging that the act compromised national security and public safety.
No date has been fixed for his arraignment.
Tension mounted outside the EFCC headquarters as supporters and critics gathered while the former governor was being questioned. Security operatives fired tear gas to disperse the crowd after clashes were reported.
Fumes from the canisters drifted toward the nearby Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, affecting patients and caregivers, including pregnant women and children, according to eyewitness accounts. The EFCC had not issued an official statement on the protest incident as of press time.
The developments follow El-Rufai’s recent claim that operatives of the Department of State Services attempted to detain him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his return from Cairo. He alleged the move was linked to directives from the National Security Adviser, a claim authorities have not publicly addressed.
As of press time, El-Rufai remains under investigation, with both the corruption allegations and the cybercrime charges yet to proceed to formal court arraignment.
