ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Former Kaduna State Governor and chieftain of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, has been detained by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, contrary to insinuations by some of his associates that he has been released.

Highly competent sources at the anti-corruption agency told THISDAY last night that El-Rufai “has a lot to answer for” and would most likely remain and spend some time with interrogators.

According to sources close to the interrogation, the scale of interrogation may require a court ordered remand of the former governor to give the agency more time to build a water-tight case against him.

El-Rufai turned himself in for interrogation yesterday following a letter of invitation to him by EFCC, which had been looking into his time as governor of Kaduna State.

Earlier in June 2024, an ad hoc committee set up by Kaduna State House of Assembly to investigate all finances, loans, and contracts awarded under the El-Rufai administration submitted its report to the Assembly.

Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, said most of the loans obtained under the El-Rufai’s administration were not used for the purposes for which they were obtained, while in some cases, due process was not followed in securing the loans.

Besides, Speaker of the Assembly, Yusuf Liman, said a total of N423 billion was allegedly siphoned by the El-Rufai’s administration, leaving the state with huge liabilities.

The committee recommended the investigation and prosecution of El-Rufai and some members of his cabinet, by security and anti-corruption agencies for alleged abuse of office, diversion of public funds, and money laundering.

The committee also recommended the immediate suspension of the Commissioner for Finance, Shizer Badda, who also served in the same capacity under El-Rufai’s administration.

However, while responding at the time, El-Rufai’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, affirmed the integrity of the El-Rufai government and dismissed as “scandalous” the claims by the committee.

El-Rufai was  detained by EFCC for more detailed grilling, just as the Department of State Service (DSS) also filed a three-count criminal charge against him at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, however, accused the President Bola Tinubu government of persecuting El-Rufai.

Hundreds of protesters, yesterday, stormed the Kaduna State House of Assembly, demanding a formal briefing on the status of the house’s investigation into the administration of El-Rufai.

El-Rufai had arrived the headquarters of EFCC about 11 am in respect of an invitation by the commission. He would be interrogated over corruption allegations levelled against him as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.

He was accompanied by hundreds of his supporters to the EFCC head office, at Jabi, Off Airport Road, Abuja. A source at the anti-graft agency, who disclosed, “He is with our investigators,” could not confirm how long the ADC chieftain would be questioned.

However, another source hinted on the possibility of his being arraigned. El-Rufai had refused arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, last Thursday by security operatives.

In a series of interviews granted after the airport drama, El-Rufai accused National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, of orchestrating the failed arrest.

El-Rufai Remains in EFCC’s Custody

El-Rufai might remain in the custody of EFCC as his investigation over alleged corruption and abuse of office continued.

El-Rufai arrived the headquarters of the anti-graft agency about 11am yesterday following an invitation by the commission.

Several hours after he honoured the invitation, he was yet to come out to his supporters, who nearly clashed with other groups, who were in support of the invitation and possible prosecution of the vocal critic of the Tinubu administration as well as some previous governments.

A source told THISDAY that shortly after the former governor entered the premises of the anti-graft agency in Jabi, Abuja, he was led to an interrogation room, where he was quizzed by investigators of the agency.

The source added that El-Rufai would definitely spend the night with investigators as the investigation was yet to be concluded.

Asked whether it was legal to detain the former Kaduna governor without a proper and valid court order, an EFCC source said that whatever is pending in terms of getting a court order to extend El-Rufai’s detention will be sorted out today.

Earlier, information had reached judiciary correspondents that the former governor might be arraigned soon before a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for cybercrime offences, in respect of alleged bugging of Ribadu’s phone lines.

DSS also filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai over allegations of unlawful interception of the phone communications of Ribadu. The criminal charge filed at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court was marked: FCT/ABJ/CR/99/2026.

The criminal proceedings were sequel to statements made by the ADC chieftain during a live interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time Programme on February 13, in Abuja.

According to the charge filed by M. E. Ernest on behalf of DSS, El-Rufai, 65, admitted during the broadcast that he and some associates unlawfully intercepted the private phone communications of the NSA.

The federal government claimed that the alleged act amounted to serious breach of Nigeria’s cybercrime and communications laws and posed a threat to public safety and national security.

Court documents further alleged that the former governor not only acknowledged knowledge of those who carried out the interception but also failed to report them to relevant security agencies, despite being aware of the alleged offence.

DSS claimed that the unlawful use of technical equipment to intercept the NSA’s communications compromised national security and created reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians.

The charge was predicated on the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

In a related development, El-Rufai confirmed that Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had invited him for questioning in its office.

Sharing the update on his  account on Friday, El-Rufai said he received a letter from the commission asking him to appear before it.

He explained that the invitation required him to report to the commission on Friday, February 13, but stated that the letter reached him around 4.30 pm on Thursday, February12.

The ADC chieftain added that his lawyer had responded to the agency, informing them that he would honour the invitation on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Credit: THISDAY

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clarified how foreign exchange rates are applied in its import and export valuation, stressing that it neither determines nor alters exchange rates used in cargo clearance, but relies solely on official figures transmitted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

In a statement released by its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the Service said recent public commentary surrounding forex pricing, investor reactions, and customs valuation had prompted it to explain the operational framework guiding its digital clearance platform.

According to Vustoms, all exchange rates used in trade processing are automatically integrated into its Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, which it described as the sole official portal for declarations, clearance and valuation.

The system, it said, receives rates electronically from the apex bank and applies them uniformly across commands nationwide, ensuring transparency, predictability, and compliance with statutory fiscal and monetary policies.

The NCS emphasised that it does not generate or manipulate exchange rates under any circumstances. Instead, it explained that the platform operates structured data-integration protocols designed to ingest and apply exchange-rate feeds exactly as transmitted.

Where there is a temporary change in transmission format or delay, the system is programmed to retain the last valid rate provided by the CBN until an updated feed is successfully processed, thereby preserving valuation continuity and accuracy.

Officials disclosed that the Service is currently collaborating with the central bank to implement an Application Programming Interface-based integration that would allow real-time rate transmission. The initiative, the statement noted, is intended to enhance operational reliability, strengthen audit integrity, and improve system resilience across customs processes.

The clarification followed reports circulating in parts of the trading community referencing an exchange rate of N1,451.63 to one United States dollar for 6 February 2026.

The NCS firmly distanced itself from that figure, stating it did not originate from the B’Odogwu system. Rather, it said, the number was sourced from trade.gov.ng, which it described as a legacy public information portal that does not reflect live customs processing data.

Similarly, the Service said the National Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) does not provide real-time valuation figures and should not be regarded as an authoritative source for current customs exchange rates.

The Service pledged continued commitment to transparency, consistency, and trade facilitation, assuring importers, exporters, licensed agents, and international partners that Nigeria’s customs valuation system remains accurate, predictable, and aligned with both national regulations and global best practices.

The added that it would continue in strengthening digital infrastructure and operational safeguards in order to support legitimate trade flows and contribute to Nigeria’s broader economic growth through accountable and efficient customs administration.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Senate has called on the management of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritise investments in agriculture and security in the implementation of its 2026 budget.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on NCDC, Senator Titus Zam, made the call when the commission’s management appeared before the committee to defend its 2026 budget estimates.

The committee went into a closed-door session shortly after the commencement of the budget defence to review the proposals submitted by the commission.

Addressing journalists after the session, Zam said the committee had scrutinised the estimates and found them relevant to the development needs of the North-Central region.

“We have considered all the items on the estimates and found them very relevant and useful for the north-central region,” he said. “As a committee overseeing this commission, we have requested them to prioritise their expenditures in line with their mandate so that people of the north-central region will benefit from their services and have value for the resources that are allocated to them.”

He stressed that the commission must align its interventions with key sectors of the economy.

“The specific development mandate of the commission cannot just be in a vacuum. It has to fill certain sectors of the economy,” Zam said.

He listed priority sectors to include agriculture, security, health, education, public infrastructure and social services.

“You know that the north-central is mostly agricultural, so agriculture must take pride of place, and it has been so embedded in their budget,” he said.

“They are also thinking about working with security experts and other stakeholders in the north-central region to see to it that they support security agencies to deliver on their mandate.”

The committee, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the capital component of the commission’s 2025 budget, though Zam noted that the challenge was not unique to the NCDC.

“It is a national challenge, as the 2025 budget has had implementation issues,” he said.

He disclosed that the committee considered the commission’s proposed total budget of N140 billion for the 2026 financial year and approved it for appropriation.

“This is the resolution of the committee: we hereby approve the total figure of N140 billion for the 2026 financial year for the commission,” Zam said.

Mild drama unfolded shortly after the budget defence session as Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reportedly confronted the office of the committee chairman over the scheduling of the meeting in her absence.

The session, scheduled for 10 a.m., ended shortly after 11 a.m. Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly arrived around noon and expressed displeasure that the exercise had concluded before her arrival. She was said to have stormed out of the committee room and proceeded to the chairman’s office after a brief confrontation with committee staff.

At the chairman’s office, she reportedly had an altercation with Zam’s secretary while one of her aides brought out a phone to record the exchange. An aide to Zam reportedly seized the phone, triggering further tension.

“You can’t continue to disrespect me like this,” Akpoti-Uduaghan was quoted as saying in high tones, before taking a chair and sitting in front of the chairman’s office, temporarily obstructing entry and exit. As the situation escalated, she reportedly brought out her phone and announced she was going live on social media.

“Must you go live on everything?” Zam’s secretary was quoted as responding. The remark allegedly angered members of the senator’s team, and in the ensuing commotion, one of her aides reportedly slapped the secretary.

The incident reportedly degenerated into a physical fight among the aides, with Akpoti-Uduaghan’s security aide allegedly attempting to bring out his gun before being overpowered and disarmed by aides in Zam’s office. Senator Zam was not present during the incident.