A former Commissioner of Finance and Accountant General in Kaduna State, Shizzer Joy Nasara Bada, was arrested by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed Airport on Sunday.

Bada, who served under Nasir el-Rufai’s administration, was reportedly attempting to leave the country when ICPC officials apprehended her.

Authorities from the ICPC indicated rising concern over a possible flight attempt amid ongoing corruption allegations against both the ex-governor and Bada.

Government sources informed The Guardian that the ICPC had been monitoring Bada’s activities after receiving intelligence suggesting she might attempt to flee to avoid investigation.

The arrest is part of a broader investigation into officials from el-Rufai’s tenure, with several individuals under scrutiny for alleged financial mismanagement.

El-Rufai has already been implicated by a Kaduna State House of Assembly committee report, accused of allegedly misappropriating N423 billion from the state’s funds. While the specific accusations against Bada have not been disclosed, insiders suspect they involve large-scale financial mismanagement and possible embezzlement.

Bada’s arrest has generated significant interest, with political analysts speculating this could lead to a more extensive investigation into the former governor’s administration.

Meanwhile, El-Rufai filed a lawsuit against the Kaduna State House of Assembly in June, challenging the claims of his administration’s alleged misappropriation of N432 billion, which left the state in debt. The case was filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna by his lawyer, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.