Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has arrived at his Abuja residence after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission granted him a temporary release on compassionate grounds to enable him attend the burial of his late mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai.
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Hajiya Umma El-Rufai died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday after a period of illness.
Sources at the anti-graft agency confirmed to TheCable on Saturday morning that El-Rufai was released to enable him participate in the burial rites of his mother.
El-Rufai’s son, Bashir, confirmed his father’s release in a post on his X handle on Friday night.
“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,” Bashir wrote.
The post was later deleted after gaining over 33,000 views.
An associate of the former governor has revealed details of El-Rufai’s time in detention, saying the ex-governor devoted himself to fasting, religious study, and intellectual pursuits while in custody.
@thenigerialawyer“Mallam Is Home” — El-Rufai Arrives Abuja Residence After ICPC Grants Compassionate Release, As Lawyer Questions Legality Of Freedom Without Court Approval
Speaking shortly after El-Rufai’s release, the associate identified as Bashir Garba Sufyan took to his X account to share details of the former governor’s activities in detention.
“Alhamdulillah, Mallam is home with his family, friends and associates. The first thing he told us was that, since his detention, he had been fasting until yesterday,” Sufyan wrote.
“He also completed the Holy Qur’an while in detention, read 10 books, and has written some as well. And you wonder why he’s great and undefeated.”
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18 over allegations bordering on financial misconduct and other related matters. 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 arrested after leaving custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, where he was grilled for 48 hours.
On March 18, the ICPC said it secured a valid court order to detain El-Rufai amid calls for his release.
The former governor was arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga, his former aide, on charges bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.
According to the ICPC, the defendants were docked on a 10-count charge bordering on abuse of office, money laundering, and fraud.
Specifically, the commission alleged that El-Rufai, in September 2020 and January 2023, received the sum of ₦289,826,998.12 on each occasion as severance allowance far exceeding the legally entitled sum of ₦20,013,245.00.
In the other charges, the ICPC accused the former governor of receiving deposits of alleged proceeds of corruption and fraud totalling $817,900 in tranches in his Guaranty Trust Bank domiciliary account while he was serving as governor of Kaduna State.
El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case was heard by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who adjourned proceedings to March 31 to consider pending applications, including a bail request.
Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, told journalists that no bail application was filed during the session, explaining that the matter was fixed specifically for arraignment.
El-Rufai is also facing separate prosecution by the State Security Service over alleged phone-tapping claims involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, with the Federal High Court in Abuja fixing April 23 for his arraignment in that case.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has questioned the legality of El-Rufai’s release, arguing that the ICPC cannot release a remanded defendant without court approval.
In a post on X on Saturday, Effiong wrote: “A person who is remanded by an order of a court cannot be released legally without recourse to the court.”
“ICPC, can you clarify the procedure adopted in this case? El-Rufai’s motion for bail is slated for Tuesday, March 31, 2026,” he continued.
“How was his release processed? Is this another government magic that the legendary Fela sang about?”
The lawyer’s comments have added to the controversy surrounding the circumstances of El-Rufai’s release.
The condolences from President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu have attracted divergent reactions on social media, with some describing the ordeal of the former governor as “a family affair among the elites.”
President Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the late matriarch as a woman who lived a remarkable life and raised children and grandchildren who have contributed greatly to the country.
“Nasir, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the passing of your beloved mother, Hajiya Umma, which happened today in Cairo,” Tinubu said.
“As someone who had also lost an old mother, I share in your grief. I understand the depth of your loss.”
Ribadu, despite being the subject of the alleged phone-tapping case involving El-Rufai, also expressed condolences.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, the matriarch of the El-Rufai family. I have fond memories of shared moments with her and her motherly care,” Ribadu wrote.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State also extended sympathies on behalf of the government and people of the state.
The release of El-Rufai on compassionate grounds, while his formal bail application remains pending before the court, has raised legal questions about the procedure adopted by the ICPC.
With his bail hearing scheduled for March 31 and his SSS arraignment set for April 23, the former governor faces a challenging legal calendar in the coming weeks.
The case returns to the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Monday, where Justice Aikawa will hear pending applications including the formal bail request.
Whether the temporary compassionate release will affect the court’s consideration of his bail application remains to be seen.
While some legal practitioners have sought to justify TheNigeriaLawyer’s position, he contends that the leadership of the ICPC is acting ultra vires and not in compliance with established legal and procedural requirements.
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