Abuja, February 19, 2026 – Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, only to be immediately taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), sources confirmed.
El-Rufai had arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday for questioning and was held until Wednesday.
“We have released him today, but he was shortly picked up after he was released by ICPC,” a source said. Attempts to reach ICPC spokesperson John Odey and El-Rufai’s lawyer, A.U. Mustapha (SAN), for comment were unsuccessful.
The former governor faces three charges (FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026) under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
The charges allege that El-Rufai admitted during a February 13 interview on Arise TV that he and his associates unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
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The counts include unlawful interception of NSA communications, association with individuals who intercepted communications without reporting them, and the use of technical equipment in Abuja to unlawfully intercept communications.
In a related development, the
Department of State Services (DSS) has reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, also known as Dadiyata, a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma.
A security source said social media posts by El-Rufai’s sons, Bello and Bashir, are being examined in connection with the case.
El-Rufai’s passport has been seized by the DSS at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to prevent him from leaving the country.
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