Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has remained in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a third consecutive day over allegations of large-scale corruption and embezzlement during his eight-year tenure.
The ex-governor is being investigated for allegedly misappropriating more than ₦433 billion while in office between 2015 and 2023.
Sources familiar with the matter who spoke with Sahara Reporters said the EFCC initially granted El-Rufai administrative bail on the condition that a Permanent Secretary and a Director in a Federal Ministry stand as sureties.
However, when the Permanent Secretary reportedly arrived at the commission’s office to complete the bail formalities, the agency allegedly hesitated and later declined to proceed with the arrangement.
It was further gathered that the Permanent Secretary subsequently withdrew from the process after allegedly receiving threats, raising concerns over possible intimidation and interference.
The EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the development.
●ICPC Invitation Uncertain
El-Rufai is also scheduled to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on Wednesday for questioning over separate corruption allegations.
However, it remains unclear whether he will be able to honour the invitation due to his continued detention by the EFCC.
Sources said his legal team had written to the ICPC to formally notify the commission of the circumstances preventing their client from attending the interrogation.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services has filed charges against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Court documents show that the charges, marked FHC/CR/99/2026, were filed in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with El-Rufai, 65, listed as the sole defendant.
The charge sheet is dated February 16, 2026.
According to the documents, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai made incriminating admissions during a televised interview on February 13, 2026, while appearing on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja.
Count One alleges that the former governor admitted to unlawfully intercepting the phone communications of the NSA, an act said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
In Count Two, prosecutors allege that El-Rufai acknowledged knowing and relating with individuals who allegedly intercepted the NSA’s communications, but failed to report them to relevant security agencies, an offence cited under Section 27(b) of the same Act.
While count three further accuses El-Rufai and “others still at large” of using technical systems that allegedly compromised public safety and national security by unlawfully intercepting the NSA’s phone communications, contrary to Section 131(2) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charge sheet lists Ernest O.M., Owan O.M., U.M. Bulla, C.S. Eze (PhD), and E.G. Orubor as counsel for the prosecution, acting on behalf of the Department of State Services.
The charges are as follows: “Count one: That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
“Count two: That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did state during the interview that you know and relate with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant Security agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024.
“Count three: That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, and other still at large, sometime in 2026, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, with others still at large did use technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to which you admitted during an interview on 13th February, 2026, on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 131 (2) Nigerian Communications Act 2003.”
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