Abuja: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday interrogated former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, concerning alleged fraud during his tenure from 2015 to 2023. El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had honored an invitation from the EFCC after his legal team confirmed his willingness to cooperate with investigators.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this development follows a failed attempt to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday. The former governor arrived at the EFCC’s head office in Abuja, accompanied by hundreds of supporters. An EFCC source confirmed that El-Rufai was being questioned about corruption allegations related to his time as governor of Kaduna State. The source could not ascertain how long the interrogation would last but hinted at the possibility of court arraignment.
Ubong Akpan, El-Rufai’s counsel, stated that the EFCC’s invitation was received while El-Rufai was overseas. Akpan criticized the attempted arrest, arguing it violated constitutional provisions guaranteeing fundamental freedoms, stating there was no justifiable basis for the arrest or the treatment that accompanied it.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that two groups of protesters gathered at the EFCC headquarters on Monday. Some chanted in support of El-Rufai, while others demanded a thorough investigation. A minor incident occurred when some of El-Rufai’s supporters were denied entry to the commission’s office in Jabi, Abuja.
Muhammad Abdullahi, spokesperson for the group protesting against El-Rufai, emphasized that the corruption allegations should not be trivialized or politicized, describing the prosecution as a lawful and constitutional matter between El-Rufai and the Kaduna State Government. Abdullahi urged that the issue not be reduced to political drama or emotional manipulation.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale responded by urging calm and assuring protesters that their concerns would be communicated to the commission’s executive chairman. Oyewale acknowledged the right of Nigerians to protest lawfully and promised to forward the petition to the appropriate authorities within the commission.