El-Rufai Spends Second Day In EFCC’s Custody

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has spent his second day in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after failing to secure administrative bail.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the EFCC has no plans to grant the chieftain of the African Democratic Party (ADC) bail and is preparing to arraign him for misappropriation and money laundering of funds during his time as governor of Kaduna State.

A reliable source who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said the EFCC plans to hold him until he is arraigned on allegations of fraud totalling over N432 billion.

Part of the accusations against the former governor include misappropriating loans, violating due process in contract awards, money laundering, and plunging the state into heavy debt rather than relieving it of any trace of projects tied to the money.

The EFCC source further revealed that part of their investigation and interrogation is connected to the report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly’s Ad hoc committee constituted in 2024 to investigate finances, loans, and contracts awarded between 2015 and 2023 under El-Rufai’s administration.

Recall that while presenting the committee’s report during plenary, the House committee chairman, Henry Zacharia, had alleged that most of the loans obtained by the El-Rufai administration were not utilised for the purposes for which they were secured.

The speaker of the House, Yusuf Leman, also alleged that about N423 billion was siphoned under the El-Rufai administration, leaving Kaduna State with heavy financial liabilities and a rising debt profile.

The committee report recommended the prosecution of the former governor and several members of his cabinet for alleged abuse of office, awarding contracts without due process, diversion of public funds, money laundering, and reckless borrowing.

The report raises issues including disputed cash payments and contracts amounting to over N155m, the alleged diversion of N1.37bn earmarked for a light rail project, and the laundering of N64.8m by senior aides to the former governor.

The lawmakers had also called for a petition to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to ensure the funds are recovered.