The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) released former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai from custody on Friday, March 27.
This was confirmed by El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, in a post on his official X handle. He expressed gratitude for his father’s release while criticising the nature of his detention.
“My beloved great legend of a father (@elrufai) is being released from his unlawful and illegal detention at the hands of one of the most corrupt agencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is a lame excuse for a pathetic institution.
“Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais,” Bashir El-Rufai stated.
El-Rufai’s release came shortly after his mother’s death was announced by the family on Friday.
There are indications that El-Rufai’s release was granted on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away on Friday in Cairo, Egypt, after a period of illness.
El-Rufai had been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026. On Tuesday, March 24, he was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge involving alleged money laundering and the conversion of public property.
The court had originally adjourned his bail application hearing to March 31, 2026. It remains to be seen if the ICPC will require him to return to custody following the funeral or if the court will formalize his bail during the upcoming Tuesday session.
Prominent figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, have issued statements of condolence to the El-Rufai family. The President described the loss of a mother as a “deeply painful experience” and praised the late matriarch for her long and fulfilled life.
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In his condolence message, Governor Sani said El-Rufai’s mother “lived a life defined by compassion, humility, and steadfast service, extending kindness to the vulnerable and dignity to all who crossed her path.”
El-Rufai’s release has continued to draw reactions on social media.
A political commentator, Imran Wakili, said El-Rufai’s sudden release after his mother’s demise shows that he is merely being persecuted and humiliated.
“The sudden release of Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai shows that they were only keeping him to humiliate him, not because he committed any crime. It is good to know that at least they still have a little conscience left, after denying him the chance to say goodbye to his mother, and keeping him in detention throughout the full 30 days of Ramadan, it’s good to know they don’t have the wickedness to deny him the opportunity to attend his mother’s funeral,” Wakili stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
