EFCC DETAINS NASIR EL-RUFAI FOR SECOND NIGHT, SEEKS COURT ORDER FOR LONGER CUSTODY

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday held on to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, marking his second night in custody at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

There were indications that the ex-governor might remain in detention longer if the anti-graft agency secures a remand order from a competent court.

A source within the commission said El-Rufai underwent another round of questioning over his administration between 2015 and 2023. The source said, “For hours we asked el-Rufai to respond to statement by his Commissioner for Finance, who had earlier appeared before EFCC. There are so many documents he has to surf, we will not release him. There are plans to secure a longer remand order from a competent court.

“There is no cause for alarm at all because el-Rufai has access to his lawyer and his rights are being protected.”

It was unclear which of his former commissioners for finance was interrogated. During his two terms, Suleiman Abdu Kwari served as Commissioner for Finance from May 2015 to May 2019 before resigning to contest the Kaduna North Senatorial seat. Mohammad Bashir Saidu was appointed in April 2019 as Kwari’s replacement and had earlier served as Chief of Staff to the governor.

Meanwhile, security sources said the Department of State Services (DSS) was set to take over El-Rufai for arraignment over alleged telephone tapping of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The secret police have reportedly filed a three-count charge against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja.