Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is set to return to Nigeria within the next 48 hours amid speculation that he had gone into self-exile.

Sources close to the former governor told Premium Times that he is expected to arrive in Abuja shortly and has formally notified the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of his intention to appear at its office by 10 a.m. on Monday, February 16.

El-Rufai, in a brief interview with with the aforementioned platform, confirmed his imminent return.

The former governor travelled abroad on November 30, 2025, after attending social engagements in Lagos the previous day.

During his absence, the EFCC reportedly delivered a letter of invitation to his residence in December 2025, triggering widespread speculation that he could face arrest upon returning to the country.

Anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), are currently investigating corruption allegations linked to his tenure as governor. El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has described the investigations as politically motivated persecution.

El-Rufai played a significant role in the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He was among APC governors who championed the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the South, citing an unwritten power-sharing understanding within the party during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Following Tinubu’s inauguration, El-Rufai was nominated as a minister. However, the Senate declined to confirm his nomination, reportedly based on a security report. He subsequently declined reconsideration and suggested a former appointee as a replacement.

Since then, relations between El-Rufai and the President have deteriorated. The former governor exited the APC last year and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), emerging as one of Tinubu’s most outspoken critics.

In March 2024, El-Rufai’s successor, Uba Sani, initiated a probe into his administration. The former governor challenged the outcome of the probe report at the Federal High Court.