Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have taken former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai into custody after he spent two nights with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), sources told Very Nigerian.
Multiple sources said el-Rufai was picked up from the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday night by DSS operatives.
Insiders disclosed that during his questioning at the anti-graft agency, investigators made several attempts to obtain a written statement from the former governor, but he repeatedly declined to provide one.
On Monday, el-Rufai presented himself at the EFCC headquarters following an invitation over alleged financial improprieties during his tenure as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.
In 2024, the Kaduna State House of Assembly indicted him over the alleged diversion of N423 billion in public funds and money laundering, recommending that anti-graft agencies investigate the matter. He has also been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Last Thursday, security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest el-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his arrival from Cairo, Egypt.
El-Rufai later alleged that the ICPC acted on the instruction of Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, to direct DSS officials to arrest him at the airport.
During an interview on Prime Time, aired on Arise Television, el-Rufai claimed that “someone wiretapped” Ribadu’s phone, allowing him to hear the alleged directive for his arrest.
On Monday, the DSS filed a three-count charge against el-Rufai for allegedly intercepting the NSA’s telephone conversation.
Sources familiar with the development told TheCable that the DSS action is unrelated to the EFCC probe and instead stems from what was described as an escalating security matter.
“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,” a senior security official was quoted as saying.
