Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission have taken former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, into custody shortly after his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Sources within the EFCC confirmed on Wednesday night that El-Rufai was freed by the commission but was immediately picked up by ICPC operatives.
The former governor had reported at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja around 10am on Monday for interrogation and remained in custody until Wednesday.
A source at the commission said, “He was released today, but ICPC operatives picked him up shortly afterwards.”
Attempts to obtain official confirmation from the ICPC proved abortive as calls to its spokesman, John Odey, were not answered as of press time.
When contacted, El-Rufai’s counsel, A. U. Mustapha (SAN), declined to comment on the development, saying it was too late to speak and suggesting further enquiries be made on Thursday.
Efforts to reach his media aide, Muyiwa Adeleye, were unsuccessful as his phone line was unreachable.
Meanwhile, security operatives of the Department of State Services were reportedly on standby ahead of El-Rufai’s expected arraignment over allegations bordering on unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser and the revived probe into the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata.
On Monday, the Federal Government instituted criminal proceedings against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the alleged illegal interception of the phone conversations of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, was filed pursuant to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charge alleged that El-Rufai admitted during a television appearance that an associate unlawfully intercepted the NSA’s telephone communications, which he allegedly listened to.
According to the charge sheet, the purported admission was made on February 13, 2026, during his appearance on Prime Time, a programme aired on Arise TV in Abuja.