ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has begun providing formal testimony to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission while in custody, according to documents detailing his initial cautionary statements.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State for eight years, is under investigation over actions taken during his tenure.
He elected to give a voluntary statement in the presence of his lawyer, Ubong Akpan.
In the opening portion of the document obtained by The Trent on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, El-Rufai acknowledged the legal caution attached to his testimony.
“I have read the above cautionary statement and I understand its meaning and implication,” he said.
The statement then began with personal details for the commission’s record.
“My name is Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai. I was born in Dandawa, Katsina State, in 1960, and grew up mostly in Kaduna State,” the document read.
Seizure of Electronic Devices
The formal testimony follows a raid conducted last week at El-Rufai’s residence, during which investigators recovered several electronic items.
An official inventory indicated that the commission seized 18 mobile devices along with laptops, hard drives and other digital storage equipment.
Initial reports had suggested the recovery of surveillance equipment, but the inventory listed primarily computers and legacy mobile phones.
Legal and Investigative Process
Legal analysts said the presence of counsel during the questioning indicates a standard approach to an anti-corruption investigation.
“A voluntary statement made under caution, especially in the presence of counsel, is a standard but critical phase in any anti-graft inquiry,” an Abuja-based legal analyst said.
“It sets the stage for how the defendant will account for the administrative and financial decisions made during his time in office.”
Investigation Into Kaduna State Finances
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has not publicly detailed potential charges or the amount of money under review.
However, the commission has previously said it is carrying out a forensic audit of Kaduna State’s accounts covering the period between 2015 and 2023.
Investigators are expected to continue questioning El-Rufai through the week, including confronting him with information extracted from the electronic devices seized during the search.
As of Wednesday afternoon, members of El-Rufai’s legal team said he was cooperating with investigators and remained confident about decisions taken during his administration.
