Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been released on temporary bail from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The release was granted on compassionate grounds to allow him attend the funeral of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who reportedly passed away in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.
A close aide confirmed that the decision followed the family’s bereavement, while his son, Bashir El-Rufai, announced the development on X (formerly Twitter), expressing gratitude for the support received during the period of detention.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18 and is currently facing multiple legal challenges. These include allegations of financial misconduct, money laundering, and unlawful handling of public funds. He was arraigned on March 24 alongside a co-defendant and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In a separate case, the Department of State Services (DSS) has also filed charges against him over alleged unlawful interception of communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The court is expected to rule on his bail application on March 31, 2026, while further proceedings in related cases are scheduled for April.
Meanwhile, El-Rufai has filed counter-suits against the ICPC and DSS, seeking damages and challenging the legality of the actions taken against him.
As of now, the ICPC has not issued an official statement detailing the conditions attached to his temporary release or the next steps in its investigation.
