Permanent Secretary Withdraws Bail for El-Rufai Over Threats

The Permanent Secretary has retracted the decision to grant bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, citing security concerns. El-Rufai has been in custody for three days, facing allegations of massive corruption and embezzlement totaling ₦433 billion during his eight years in office.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially agreed to grant bail under conditions requiring the Permanent Secretary's assurance. However, upon arrival to complete the bail process, the Permanent Secretary reportedly became cautious and suspended the arrangement after receiving alleged threats.

El-Rufai is expected to honor an invitation from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) regarding separate corruption allegations. Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed criminal charges against El-Rufai in the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting phone communications related to national security.

The case is marked FHC/CR/99/2026, with the first hearing scheduled for February 16, 2026.