The former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, was on Wednesday released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission only to be swiftly taken into custody by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
It was learnt that sources within the EFCC confirmed on Wednesday night that the former governor had been released but was almost immediately picked up by ICPC operatives.
“We have released him today, but he was shortly picked up after he was released by ICPC,” a source at the agency said.
El-Rufai had arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at approximately 10am on Monday for questioning.
He remained in the commission’s custody for two days before his release on Wednesday.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the ICPC proved futile as calls to its spokesman, John Odey, went unanswered.
El-Rufai’s counsel, A. U. Mustapha (SAN), neither confirmed nor denied the development when contacted.
“It is too late to talk. Let’s talk tomorrow,” the lawyer said.
The telephone number of El-Rufai’s media aide, Muyiwa Adeleye, was also unreachable at press time.
The development comes on the heels of fresh criminal charges filed against the former governor by the Federal Government before the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
El-Rufai was accused of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Specifically, the charge sheet alleged that the former governor admitted during a televised interview on February 13, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, that an unnamed associate had intercepted the NSA’s phone communications and that he personally listened to the recordings.
The Department of State Services has also been reported to be on standby in connection with El-Rufai’s anticipated arraignment, with its interest extending to a reopened investigation into the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
