Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted temporary bail from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The release allows him to attend the funeral rites of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who reportedly passed away in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.
An aide to the former governor confirmed that the release was approved on compassionate grounds following the family’s bereavement. Reacting to the development, his son, Bashir El-Rufai, posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle:
“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. Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais.”
Alhamdulillah.
My beloved great legend of a father (@elrufai) is being released from his unlawful & 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.
Thank you all for all the…
— Bashir El-Rufai (@BashirElRufai) March 27, 2026
As of this report, the ICPC has not issued an official statement regarding the conditions of El-Rufai’s temporary release or the next steps in its investigation.
The former governor has been involved in multiple high-profile legal battles, facing allegations ranging from financial misconduct and money laundering to national security breaches across several courts in Nigeria. He has been in ICPC custody since February 18.
On March 24, El-Rufai was formally arraigned alongside co-defendant Joel Adoga at the Federal High Court in Kaduna. The charges included alleged conversion and possession of public property and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty to a 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.
El-Rufai Faces Multiple Legal Battles and Counter-Suits
In a separate case, the ICPC has filed charges against El-Rufai and another defendant, Amadu Sule, at the Kaduna State High Court. Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) has instituted a three-count charge against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Abuja. This case revolves around allegations of unlawful interception of phone communications belonging to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, in violation of the Cybercrimes Act. El-Rufai’s arraignment in this matter has been scheduled for April 23, 2026, following earlier delays due to his detention by the ICPC.
El-Rufai has also filed counter-suits challenging actions taken by the authorities. In one case, he is seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the ICPC and other agencies over a February 19 raid on his Abuja residence, which he claims was unlawful. He is asking the court to declare the search warrant invalid and restrain the use of any evidence obtained during the operation.
In a separate action against the DSS, El-Rufai is seeking ₦2 billion in damages and has asked the court to dismiss the wiretapping charges, describing them as unconstitutional harassment.
These legal battles stem from events that began on February 16, 2026, when El-Rufai was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ₦423 billion misappropriation. He was granted administrative bail on February 18 but was immediately re-arrested by the ICPC. His arraignment on March 24 in Kaduna marked a major development in these ongoing cases, although journalists were barred from the courtroom during proceedings.
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