Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was detained on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission intensified a corruption probe, while the Department of State Services filed separate criminal charges accusing him of unlawful telephone interception.
El-Rufai was taken into custody after honouring an EFCC invitation and was questioned for hours over alleged financial misconduct linked to decisions and administrative actions taken during his time in public office.
Officials familiar with the probe said investigators are examining issues bordering on alleged abuse of office, fiscal responsibility and the management of public funds.
The commission has not disclosed full details of the case but confirmed the former governor is cooperating with investigators.
In a parallel development, the DSS filed a three-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing El-Rufai of intercepting telecommunications communications without lawful authorization.
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Prosecutors argue the alleged act violates Nigeria’s cyber and communications laws and raises serious national security concerns.
Legal observers say the convergence of a corruption investigation and national-security-related charges places the case at a critical intersection of law, governance and political accountability, with potential implications for how surveillance-related offences are interpreted within Nigeria’s legal system.
No date has been announced for his arraignment, and neither El-Rufai nor his legal team has issued an official response as of press time.
With investigations ongoing and court proceedings expected, the case is set to remain a major issue in Nigeria’s legal and political discourse in the coming days.