Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, arrived at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headquarters in Abuja on Monday to face questioning over allegations of corruption during his eight-year tenure, an appearance that triggered rival demonstrations and heightened security tensions outside the anti-graft agency.
El-Rufai’s arrival at the EFCC complex sparked immediate controversy as security operatives reportedly barred members of his entourage from accompanying him into the building, creating what witnesses described as a tense standoff at the entrance.
Supporters of the former governor gathered at the junction leading to the commission’s premises, holding placards bearing inscriptions including “El-Rufai is a citizen, not a subject” and “We stand with El-Rufai. We stand for law,” according to reports and images circulating on social media.
A video that emerged online showed the pro-El-Rufai group alleging that EFCC security personnel dispersed them using teargas while simultaneously permitting an opposing group of protesters to assemble in a nearby location.
The counter-demonstration featured participants carrying banners with messages such as “El-Rufai cannot hide behind politics, let the law catch up” and smaller placards stating “Answer the charge, El-Rufai,” creating a charged atmosphere around the anti-corruption agency’s headquarters.
El-Rufai had travelled outside Nigeria on November 30, 2025. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the EFCC delivered a formal letter of invitation to his Abuja residence in December while he was abroad, fuelling widespread speculation that the former governor could face arrest immediately upon his return to the country.
The ex-governor, who recently became a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress following his departure from the All Progressives Congress, had formally notified the commission that he would present himself at their office by 10 am on Monday.
According to his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, security agents had previously attempted to apprehend El-Rufai at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his arrival on a flight from Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday last week.
“Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from Cairo. Malam El-Rufai declined to follow them without a formal invitation,” Adekeye posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Adekeye further alleged that officials seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter at the airport, a claim that has not been independently verified or officially confirmed by security agencies.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa last Wednesday, El-Rufai characterised the airport incident as “executive overreach and a deliberate disregard for the rule of law,” expressing concerns about the manner in which security agencies were handling his case.
The former governor warned that he could be detained at any moment, noting that several of his former aides and associates had already been arrested and taken into custody in connection with ongoing investigations.
The EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission are reportedly conducting separate investigations into El-Rufai’s administration, including a probe initiated by his successor, Governor Uba Sani, into financial dealings during the former governor’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.
Governor Sani had in 2024 publicly stated that he inherited significant debt obligations from the previous administration, remarks that intensified scrutiny of how state resources were managed during El-Rufai’s governorship.
El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing, publicly alleging that he is being persecuted by the federal government and the ruling All Progressives Congress, the party under which he served as governor before his recent defection.
The former governor has in recent months intensified public criticism of President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership, asserting in various statements and interviews that he was never a political ally of the president despite both men having roots in progressive politics.
El-Rufai’s relationship with the ruling party deteriorated visibly after he was excluded from a ministerial appointment following the 2023 general elections, despite widespread expectations that he would be given a cabinet position due to his national political profile and role in APC affairs.
His exclusion was reportedly linked to security clearance issues raised during the ministerial screening process, though no official explanation was provided at the time.
The ongoing investigations into El-Rufai’s tenure represent one of the most high-profile corruption probes involving a former state governor in recent years, drawing attention to accountability measures for public office holders after leaving office.
El-Rufai governed Kaduna State from May 2015 to May 2023, a period during which he implemented controversial policies including mass demolitions, public sector reforms, and religious policies that attracted both praise and criticism from different segments of Nigerian society.
His administration was credited with infrastructure development and investment in education but also faced accusations of insensitivity to ethnic and religious concerns, particularly regarding security challenges in southern Kaduna and other parts of the state.
The EFCC, established in 2003, serves as Nigeria’s primary agency for investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and related offences. The commission has in recent years stepped up investigations into former state governors, with several ex-governors currently facing trial or having been convicted on corruption charges.
