The temporary release was reportedly granted on compassionate grounds to enable him attend the burial rites of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who was said to have died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday

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) after spending weeks in detention.

The temporary release was reportedly granted on compassionate grounds to enable him attend the burial rites of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who was said to have died in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.

An aide to the former governor confirmed that the anti-corruption agency approved the release following the family’s loss, although the specific conditions attached to the bail were not immediately disclosed.

As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued any official statement on the reason for El-Rufai’s detention or the terms of his temporary release.

Reacting to the development, El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, announced his father’s release in a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he also criticised the commission.

“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,” Bashir wrote.

He also described the ICPC as “a lame excuse of a pathetic institution,” adding that the family would not forget the experience.

“Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais,” he added.

El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, remains a prominent and controversial figure in Nigeria’s political space.

It remains unclear whether the temporary bail will lead to full release or if he will be required to return to ICPC custody after the burial rites.

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