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The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) is making real its threat to arrest Nasir El-Rufai,
the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The anti-graft agency has written Mr. El-Rufai asking him to appear before its investigators for questioning on Tuesday. Spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the invitation yesterday.

“The commission would not delay to
invite him to answer questions on allegations of misappropriation of
over N32 billion while he was minister of the FCT”.

The EFCC had, over the weekend,
expressed displeasure over Mr. El-Rufai’s easy entrance into the
country despite its world alert on him in 2008. The commission has been
on Mr. El-Rufai’s trail since 2008 over allegations of misappropriation
of public funds to the tune of N32 billion.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr. El-Rufai expressed his readiness to visit the offices of the EFCC in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said he will not be going to the
anti-graft agency to turn himself in but to find out if the agency is
still interested in arresting him.

Barely two hours after his arrival in
Nigeria following a two year exile, Mr. El-Rufai, in his home in Jabi,
Abuja, declared that he had returned home at this time for three
purposes. First, because of his family and friends. Second, to clear
himself of the eight-count charge, including the misuse of office,
levelled against him by the EFCC. Third for the purposes of the
upcoming 2011 elections.

The former minister said that he is fully prepared for whatever challenges his homecoming may present.

“Before I came, I said, okay, what is
the worse thing that can happen to me. I had accepted that and I
planned to live with it,” he said.

El-Rufai’s homecoming

As of Friday night,
it was not yet clear what events would follow his arrival. Speculations
were rife that the former minister would be arrested at the airport by
the EFCC. In fact, the EFCC had on Friday, declared their eagerness to
prosecute Mr. El-Rufai as soon as he returned to the country.

But in the wee
hours of Saturday when Mr. El-Rufai arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport, Abuja, aboard a British Airways flight, the
former minister faced neither resistance nor harassment but was quickly
cleared by airport officials within 18 minutes.

On hand to receive him were about 100 family members and friends. Some had kept vigil at the airport to receive him.

“I got to the
airport last night at about 11pm. There were many of us, about 50 of us
here,” Darlington Kenubia, who described himself as Mr. El-Rufai’s fan,
said to NEXT. Mr. Kenubia said that he missed his night’s sleep because
of his admiration for the former minister.

A family friend,
Saidu Hassan Yakubu, said he left his home at 4.30 am to head for the
airport to welcome the former FCT minister. Mr. Yakubu, too late to
meet the welcome party at the airport, headed for Mr. El-Rufai’s home
in Jabi, Abuja.

“I went because I
wanted to be sure that he was coming. We were also curious about what
would happen to him on his arrival,” Mr. Yakubu said.

Back in Mr.
El-Rufai’s home, the mood was joyous. On arrival, however, the former
minister retreated to a prayer arena to say his prayers.

Home for good

At about 6.30am,
Mr. El-Rufai, who is widely praised and criticised for his actions
during his tenure as the FCT’s minister, relaxed in his living room
swamped by journalists and visitors to speak about his return to
Nigeria.

“I believe in
Nigeria. I believe in Nigeria’s future and potentials. I believe that
our young people that account for nearly 80 percent of the population
deserve a better future,” he declared.

While conceding
that he has deep interests in the upcoming 2011 elections, Mr. El-Rufai
declined to state whether or not he will be running for a public office.

“Absolutely, I have
absolute, total interests and commitment to ensuring that the 2011
elections produce better governance than what we’ve had and I’m working
with a group of many like minded people for this. The country really
needs better leadership and I’m looking forward to being part of a
movement to produce that leadership but not necessarily running for
office myself. Of course, I’m not ruling anything out,” he said.

Mr. El-Rufai said
he missed the love and affection, as well as the zest for life of the
Nigerian people adding that he has returned home to stay. First on his
itinerary is to clear his name at the EFCC.

“I will go to the EFCC office and ask them whether they are still looking for me.

“Tuesday, 10 O’clock, I’ll be there,” he said.

According to him, he has recruited for himself “a very strong legal team” within and outside the country.