Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly taken former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, into custody shortly after he spent two nights at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that el-Rufai was picked up on Wednesday night from the EFCC premises by officials of the secret police.
It was gathered that while being questioned by the anti-graft agency, investigators sought to obtain a written statement from him, but he allegedly declined to submit one.
El-Rufai had honoured an EFCC invitation on Monday over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration between 2015 and 2023. In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused him of diverting N423 billion in public funds and engaging in money laundering, recommending that anti-corruption agencies probe the matter.
The former governor has also been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with related issues.
Last week, there was an attempt by security operatives to arrest him at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja upon his return from Cairo, Egypt. El-Rufai later alleged that the ICPC acted on the directive of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, instructing the DSS to apprehend him on arrival.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Saturday, he claimed that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, enabling him to hear the NSA directing security agencies to arrest him.
On Monday, the DSS filed a three-count charge against el-Rufai, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting the National Security Adviser’s telephone conversation.
However, security sources insist the DSS action is unrelated to the EFCC investigation. According to a senior official, the detention stems from a separate security issue.
“He has a case to answer regarding an escalating security matter. This is not related to the EFCC investigation. It is a separate matter entirely.”
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