Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday voluntarily appeared at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, responding to an ongoing investigation into alleged financial improprieties during his tenure.
The development comes amid a broader legal scrutiny involving both state-level and federal allegations.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that El-Rufai reported to the commission to answer questions regarding his administration’s financial management and contractual engagements.
Investigators from the Commission are reportedly questioning the former governor on various transactions carried out under his leadership.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had earlier established an ad hoc committee tasked with reviewing the financial conduct and contractual obligations of El-Rufai’s government.
According to the committee chairman, Henry Zacharia, numerous loans obtained by the state under El-Rufai’s administration were allegedly diverted from their intended purposes.
In some cases, due process in securing the loans was reportedly not observed.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Liman, stated that the total amount allegedly misappropriated could reach N423 billion, leaving the state burdened with significant financial liabilities.
Following its investigation, the committee recommended that EFCC and other security agencies pursue legal action against El-Rufai and certain members of his cabinet for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.
Additionally, the committee suggested the suspension of the state’s former Commissioner of Finance, Shizer Badda, who held office during El-Rufai’s tenure.
Responding to the Assembly’s findings, El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, vehemently dismissed the claims as “scandalous” and politically motivated.
Adekeye emphasised that the former governor and his administration conducted governance with integrity and transparency, asserting that officials who appeared before the committee did so confident in the propriety of their service.
In a detailed statement, Adekeye described the Assembly’s report as a deliberate effort to tarnish El-Rufai’s record: “Malam Nasir El-Rufai is immensely proud of his record of governance and the legacy he left in Kaduna State.
”This record of consistently high performance in public and private office cannot be altered by any malicious effort to use the auspices of a state legislature for defamation and undeserved smears,” he said.
The EFCC invitation coincides with a federal-level charge against El-Rufai regarding the alleged interception of communications belonging to Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
According to documents filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, El-Rufai and associates are accused of unlawfully monitoring the NSA’s phone conversations.
The three-count charge listed the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant and El-Rufai as the defendant. Sources familiar with the case indicated that El-Rufai’s alleged acknowledgment of the interception is part of the formal accusation.
Legal experts said the case could have far-reaching implications for public office holders and national security protocols.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, has long been a polarising figure in Nigerian politics, lauded by supporters for reforms in infrastructure, education, and fiscal management, but criticised by opponents over alleged authoritarian tendencies and financial controversies.
The ongoing EFCC questioning and the federal charges add another layer of scrutiny to his political legacy.
Authorities have not indicated a timeline for the conclusion of the investigation or potential prosecution.
Meanwhile, political analysts expect the case to be closely followed, given its intersection of state governance, financial accountability, and national security concerns.
