Morning Brief: EFCC holds El-Rufai over ₦432bn probe, Nigeria awaits FIFA ruling, other top stories

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged ₦432 billion corruption investigation, with operatives of the Department of State Services reportedly placed on standby.

At the same time, uncertainty surrounds Nigeria’s bid to return to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as FIFA is yet to issue a decision on the country’s protest against DR Congo.

Elsewhere, police have arrested a suspect following the deaths of two Nollywood crew members on a Lagos film set, the National Assembly is weighing a proposal to shift the date of the 2027 presidential election, and a court has ordered the remand of suspects accused of killing a Nigerian student based in South Africa.

El-Rufai detained
The anti-graft agency confirmed that El-Rufai honoured an invitation to its Abuja headquarters on Monday and was questioned over allegations linked to a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The report accused his administration of mismanaging loans, breaching due process in contract awards, and pushing the state into significant debt between 2015 and 2023. He remained in custody as of late Monday, with officials declining to comment on possible charges.

Investigators said the probe follows recommendations by the state assembly, which alleged that hundreds of billions of naira were misappropriated during El-Rufai’s tenure. The former governor has repeatedly rejected the claims, describing them as politically motivated and insisting that all borrowed funds were properly applied to development projects.

Fresh criminal charges
In a related development, the Federal Government has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged unlawful interception of communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The charges stem from remarks El-Rufai made during a televised interview in which he claimed to have knowledge of intercepted calls. No date has yet been fixed for his arraignment.

Dadiyata case revisited
Separately, the DSS has reopened investigations into the 2019 disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a government critic who vanished in Kaduna. Security sources said El-Rufai and his sons are being investigated in connection with the case, while his passport was reportedly seized to prevent foreign travel. El-Rufai has denied any involvement, maintaining that he neither knew Dadiyata nor had reason to target him.

Protests and reactions
The developments sparked protests in Abuja and Kaduna, with demonstrators both demanding accountability and expressing support for the former governor. Civil society groups called for the judicial process to be allowed to run its course, while EFCC officials said the agency would act strictly within the law.

Human rights advocates also renewed calls for accountability over alleged abuses during El-Rufai’s eight years in office, urging thorough investigations and justice for victims.

As multiple probes unfold ranging from alleged financial misconduct to cybercrime and a reopened disappearance case El-Rufai faces one of the most serious legal challenges confronting a former governor in recent years. His political future now hinges on the outcome of investigations and court proceedings, as the country edges closer to another election cycle.