Malam Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, honored an invitation to the head office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday morning. Neither the EFCC nor El-Rufai's associates immediately provided an update on his stay at the anti-graft agency following his arrival. His media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, confirmed El-Rufai's presence via a tweet, stating he had arrived to honor the agency’s invitation. Later, Adekeye provided an update on X, confirming El-Rufai had a "frank and fruitful interaction with the EFCC officials," whom his counsel found "entirely professional," and that he remained with the commission.

El-Rufai's appearance at the EFCC headquarters was marked by protests from both his supporters and opponents. Supporters displayed placards with messages such as 'Say No To Injustice' and 'We stand with El-Rufai,' while those against him carried signs demanding accountability, including 'No one is above the law' and 'El-Rufai Must Be Probed.' Some protesters chanted solidarity songs, while others called for a thorough investigation into his tenure. A mild drama unfolded when some individuals accompanying El-Rufai were prevented from entering the commission’s office. Muhammad Abdullahi, spokesperson for the group protesting against El-Rufai, insisted that corruption allegations against the former governor must not be trivialized. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale appealed for calm, assuring protesters that their petition would be forwarded and that the EFCC would conduct its work professionally. Security operatives later dispersed the crowd, which had obstructed vehicular movement and caused traffic congestion.

El-Rufai's invitation to the EFCC, which followed an earlier one, is part of ongoing investigations into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kaduna from 2015 to 2023. Detectives grilled him over alleged fraud and diversion of public funds. The Kaduna House of Assembly had previously inaugurated a 13-member committee in 2024 to examine loans, grants, and project implementation during his administration. This committee accused him of money laundering and alleged diversion of public funds amounting to N423 billion and recommended his probe. El-Rufai has denied these allegations and challenged the lawmakers in court. He is also scheduled to appear before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday as part of collaborative investigations into alleged misappropriation of approximately N432 billion.

This EFCC engagement follows a tense incident last Thursday when security operatives reportedly attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his return from Cairo, Egypt. Videos circulated online depicting a brief confrontation, and his international passport was reportedly confiscated. El-Rufai later claimed on Arise Television that this arrest attempt was at the instruction of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, alleging that Ribadu’s phone had been tapped, allowing him to hear the order. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the attempted arrest as arbitrary and a violation of constitutional rights, noting that the EFCC invitation was delivered while El-Rufai was abroad, making immediate compliance impractical. Akpan formally assured the EFCC of voluntary attendance upon his client's return and demanded the immediate return of El-Rufai’s passport, warning of legal action against unlawful detention.

Adding to the legal challenges, the Department of State Services (DSS), also referred to as the State Security Service (SSS), filed cybercrime charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja. These charges relate to the alleged unlawful interception of NSA Nuhu Ribadu’s phone communications. This legal action came days after El-Rufai publicly stated on Arise TV that Ribadu’s phone conversation regarding his detention was intercepted. Sources at the commission indicated that El-Rufai was still being interrogated, with the possibility of being taken to court for arraignment.

Beyond the legal battles, El-Rufai has also been navigating significant political shifts. After initially backing President Bola Tinubu's emergence as the APC presidential candidate in 2023, he later became a fierce critic following the president's initial attempt to appoint him as a minister, which ultimately fell through. El-Rufai has since joined the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing to collaborate with like-minded politicians to prevent Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.