Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been released on temporary bail by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after weeks in detention.
The release was reportedly granted to allow El-Rufai to attend the funeral of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday. An aide confirmed that the ICPC approved the compassionate release, though the conditions of the bail have not been made public.
The anti-corruption agency has yet to issue an official statement on the reasons for El-Rufai’s detention or the specifics of his release.
Reacting on social media, El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, announced his father’s release on X (formerly Twitter), describing the ICPC as “a lame excuse of a pathetic institution” and condemning what he called his father’s “unlawful and illegal detention.” He added:
“Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais.”
El-Rufai, a polarizing yet influential figure in Nigerian politics, governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and continues to play a prominent role in the country’s political discourse.
It remains unclear whether this temporary release will lead to full bail or if El-Rufai is expected to return to ICPC custody after the burial.