Nasir el Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, has been granted temporary release from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following the passing of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai.
The late matriarch reportedly died on Friday in Cairo, Egypt, after an undisclosed illness. Her death has drawn sympathy from political allies, associates, and members of the public, given the prominence of the El-Rufai family in Nigerian political circles.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that El-Rufai, a key figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was granted temporary bail on compassionate grounds. The decision allows him to participate in the Islamic funeral rites of his mother, an obligation considered deeply significant in both religious and cultural contexts.
Confirmation of his release came through an emotional statement shared on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) by his son, Bashir El-Rufai. In the post, Bashir expressed both relief and defiance, describing his father’s detention as unjust while thanking supporters who stood by the family during the ordeal.
“My beloved great legend of a father (@elrufai) is being released from his unlawful and illegal detention… Thank you all for the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais.”
Despite the public confirmation, the ICPC has yet to release an official statement regarding the temporary bail.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, as part of an investigation into alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. The probe centers on claims involving the management of public funds and contracts executed under his administration—allegations that remain unproven as legal processes continue.
In the weeks leading up to his detention, El-Rufai had also come under scrutiny from the Department of State Services (DSS). He was reportedly questioned over claims that the phone of Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, had been tapped—an allegation that added another layer of controversy to an already tense political climate.
As the former governor reunites briefly with his family during this period of mourning, questions remain about the trajectory of the investigation and what lies ahead once the funeral rites are concluded.
**Feature Photo: Nasir el Rufai with late mother, Umma.
