Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted temporary release from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on compassionate grounds, allowing him to attend the burial of his late mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai.
El-Rufai, who had been in detention since February 18 over allegations bordering on financial misconduct, arrived at his Abuja residence shortly after his release on Friday. The decision by the anti-graft agency followed the passing of his mother in Cairo, Egypt, after a period of illness.
Confirmation of his release came from his son, Bashir El-Rufai, who took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle late Friday night to announce the development. In an emotional and strongly worded statement, Bashir expressed gratitude to supporters while condemning the circumstances surrounding his father’s detention.
“Alhamdulillah. My beloved great legend of a father 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 that is a lame excuse of a pathetic institution,” he wrote.
“Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais,” he added.
Despite the temporary reprieve, El-Rufai’s legal challenges remain unresolved. The ICPC continues its investigation into allegations of financial misconduct leveled against the former governor.
In a separate development, El-Rufai is also facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged phone-tapping claims involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 23 for his arraignment in the matter.
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The temporary release underscores the gravity of his personal loss while highlighting the ongoing legal battles that continue to surround the former governor, whose political career remains under intense scrutiny.
Observers note that while the compassionate release offers brief relief, the coming weeks are likely to be decisive as court proceedings unfold in both cases.
Below are videos of El-Rufai arriving, and Rotimi Amaechi visiting:
'To show you that the government knows what they're doing, they just released him (El-Rufai) without a court order'
– Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi visits El-Rufai at his Abuja residence to offer condolences over his mother's death and criticises President Tinubu's… https://t.co/61U99TWMvC pic.twitter.com/rwgi70NIon
— Nigerian Affairs Journal (@NigAffairs) March 28, 2026
