Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is expected to return to Nigeria within the next 48 hours, putting an end to weeks of speculation that he had gone into self-exile.
According to a Premium Times report, sources close to the former governor said he has informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he will appear at its office by 10 a.m. on Monday, February 16.
El-Rufai confirmed his imminent return in a brief interview.
He travelled out of the country on November 30, 2025, after attending social engagements in Lagos. In December, while he was abroad, the EFCC delivered a letter of invitation to his residence, fuelling speculation that he could face arrest upon his return.
Since leaving office in 2023, El-Rufai has remained an influential figure in national politics. He played a key role in the emergence of President Bola Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general election.
At the time, El-Rufai joined other APC governors in urging then-President Muhammadu Buhari to zone the party’s ticket to the South-West, citing an internal power-sharing arrangement.
Following Tinubu’s inauguration, El-Rufai was nominated for a ministerial position. However, the Senate declined to confirm his appointment, reportedly citing a security report. He later requested not to be reconsidered and proposed a former appointee as a replacement nominee.
Relations between El-Rufai and the presidency later deteriorated. In 2025, he defected from the APC to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where he has emerged as a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration.
In March 2024, his successor, Governor Uba Sani, launched a probe into El-Rufai’s administration. The former governor subsequently challenged the findings at the Federal High Court.
Both the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are currently investigating allegations of corruption linked to his tenure as governor.
El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the actions against him are politically motivated.
