Three Major Reasons Why Nasir El-Rufai May Spend Ramadan in Detention

Speculation is mounting in political circles that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, could face longer detention during the Ramadan period if ongoing legal and political developments take a dramatic turn.

Nasir El-Rufai was detained at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja on Monday night after hours of interrogation over an alleged N432 billion corruption probe.

El-Rufai, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, is also expected to face criminal prosecution over the alleged bugging of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone.

Multiple sources within the anti-graft agency confirmed to The PUNCH that the former governor, who arrived at the commission’s Jabi headquarters around 10am in response to an invitation, was grilled over allegations arising from the 2024 report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly which accused his administration of misappropriating loans, violating due process in contract awards and plunging the state into heavy debt.

“The commission has been investigating him for about a year now. As a commission, we don’t just rush to invite suspects. Persons accused are always the last; that is after we might have done our investigation to an advanced stage.

“We are investigating him on the allegations against him by the Kaduna State Assembly,” a senior EFCC source told one of our correspondents.

Asked late Monday night whether El-Rufai would regain his freedom, the source responded bluntly, “He is still in our custody and wouldn’t be released today (Monday).”

The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the former governor honoured the commission’s invitation but declined further comments on the nature of the interrogation or the next line of action.

While no official confirmation has been issued by security agencies, insiders point to two major factors that could shape the former governor’s immediate future.

Sources close to anti-corruption agencies suggest that investigations linked to financial dealings and contracts awarded during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State are still active. There have been reports of petitions and audit reviews focusing on debt management, project execution, and procurement processes under his administration.

If investigators determine that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with charges, detention could follow as part of standard legal procedures pending arraignment. Legal experts note that high-profile political figures are not immune to custodial measures where prosecutors believe it is necessary to prevent interference with investigations.

Though El-Rufai has repeatedly defended his record in office, insisting that all actions taken under his leadership were lawful and in the public interest, the weight of ongoing scrutiny continues to fuel political tension.

Another major factor is the criminal prosecution over the alleged bugging of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone.

Bail Process Stalls as Permanent Secretary Withdraws
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the anti-graft agency initially granted El-Rufai administrative bail. However, the conditions required a Permanent Secretary and a Director in a federal ministry to stand as sureties.

Although the Permanent Secretary reportedly appeared at the EFCC office to finalize the bail process, officials allegedly hesitated before ultimately declining to proceed with the arrangement. Shortly after, the official withdrew from the surety process.

Insiders claimed the withdrawal followed alleged threats, raising fresh concerns about possible interference and pressure linked to the case. Consequently, El-Rufai EFCC custody continues, despite what appeared to be progress toward his temporary release.

As of Wednesday morning, the anti-corruption agency had not issued an official public statement clarifying the circumstances surrounding the failed bail arrangement.

ICPC Invitation in Limbo
Meanwhile, El-Rufai was scheduled to appear before the committee for questioning over separate corruption allegations.

However, uncertainty now surrounds that appearance due to his continued detention.

His legal team reportedly wrote to the ICPC to formally notify the commission that their client could not honour the invitation because he remains in EFCC custody. Legal observers say the situation presents a jurisdictional dilemma, especially as multiple agencies pursue separate investigations.

DSS Files Charges Over Alleged Phone Interception
In a dramatic twist, the has also filed criminal charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charges, marked FHC/CR/99/2026 and dated February 16, 2026, were filed in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. El-Rufai, 65, is listed as the sole defendant.

According to court documents cited by SaharaReporters, the prosecution alleges that El-Rufai made incriminating admissions during a televised interview on ’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026.