- El-Rufai marks 66th birthday in EFCC custody
- Former Kaduna governor under money laundering probe
- Atiku Abubakar sends birthday message amid investigation
- ICPC also invites ex-governor for further questioning
Lead
Former Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Governor of Kaduna State, marked his 66th birthday on Monday while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an ongoing investigation into alleged multi-billion naira money laundering.
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El-Rufai honoured an invitation from the anti-graft agency on Monday, February 16, arriving at the EFCC headquarters alongside hundreds of supporters.
The former governor, who served Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023, was reportedly detained overnight as investigations continued.
Reacting to the development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar sent a birthday message to El-Rufai, describing him as a man of intellect and courage despite what he termed political persecution.
“Happy Birthday to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. A man of intellect, courage, and uncommon sagacity. Even amid the present political persecution and needless distractions, his record of service and clarity of thought and purpose remain undeniable,” Atiku wrote on X.
El-Rufai was born on February 16, 1960, according to his official biography.
Providing an update on Monday night, El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed that the former governor was still with the EFCC after what he described as a productive engagement.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai today honoured the invitation extended to him by the EFCC. He had a frank and fruitful interaction with EFCC officials, who were entirely professional in their conduct. He remains with the EFCC,” Adekeye said in a post on X.
The investigation follows a 2024 indictment by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which accused El-Rufai’s administration of allegedly diverting ₦423 billion in public funds and engaging in money laundering. The assembly called on anti-graft agencies to probe the matter.
In addition to the EFCC investigation, El-Rufai has also been invited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and is expected to appear before the commission on Wednesday.
Last Thursday, security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airportafter he arrived from Cairo.
The former governor later alleged that the ICPC acted on the instruction of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, directing operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest him on arrival.
Investigations by the relevant agencies are ongoing.
