ICPC Temporarily Releases El-Rufai to Attend Mother’s Burial

Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Friday temporarily released former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, from its custody.

The gesture of the anti- corruption agency was to enable the former governor who has been in custody since February 16, 2026 attend the funeral rites of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.

The news of el-Rufai’s temporarily release was made public by his son, Bashir El-Rufai, vide a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday.

Bashir in the post stated that, “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, that is a lame excuse of a pathetic institution”.

He however, thanked all those who supported the family in their difficult moments assuring that, “Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais.”

Efforts to confirm the post from the ICPC however, was not successful as the spokesperson of the commission, Mr John Odey, was not available to respond to inquiries of our correspondent.

El-Rufai was initially invited for questioning by the EFCC on February 16 and detained until 18, when he was subsequently arrested by the ICPC.

He spent over a month with the commission before his arraignment earlier this week before the Kaduna division of the Federal High Court.

He was arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga, on charges bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.

He however pleaded not guilty to the single-count charge linked to deposits into domiciliary accounts and the handling of earnings. The court adjourned ruling on his bail application to March 31, 2026, while he remains in custody.

In a separate case, the ICPC has also filed charges at the Kaduna State High Court against El-Rufai and another defendant, Amadu Sule.

Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a three-count charge against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case centres on allegations of unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of the Cybercrimes Act.