Tension heightened in Abuja on Monday as former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, arrived at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning over alleged financial misconduct during his time in office.
Gatekeepers News reports that the visit triggered protests from rival groups of supporters and critics, who converged on the anti-graft agency’s premises shortly before his arrival.
While some demonstrators chanted in support of the former governor, others openly demanded his prosecution, leading to a heated atmosphere around the facility.
Security operatives were forced to deploy teargas to disperse the crowd and prevent a breakdown of law and order, as protesters attempted to gain access to the EFCC complex.
The situation was eventually brought under control, with heavy security presence maintained within and around the area.
Sources at the EFCC confirmed that el-Rufai is being interrogated in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged mismanagement and diversion of public funds during his eight-year tenure as Kaduna State governor.
The probe reportedly focuses on large-scale infrastructure projects, loan utilisation, and financial transactions executed under his administration.
The development comes days after a dramatic incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where security operatives reportedly made moves to arrest El-Rufai upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.
The former Governor later claimed that the attempt was orchestrated by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which allegedly instructed Department of State Services (DSS) to intercept him at the airport.
As of the time of filing this report, EFCC officials had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the questioning, while security remains tightened around the agency’s headquarters.
