El-Rufai Released On Bail By ICPC

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has secured temporary bail from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The commission granted the release on compassionate grounds so he can attend the funeral rites of his late mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai. She reportedly passed away in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.

An aide to the former governor confirmed the arrangement. His son, Bashir El-Rufai, broke the news on X, thanking well-wishers while hitting out at the conditions of his father’s continued detention.

As at the time of filing this report, the ICPC is yet to issue any official statement on the terms of the bail or what happens next in the probe.

El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18. He is currently battling several cases in different courts.

On March 24, he was arraigned with a co-defendant at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on charges of financial misconduct. These include conversion and possession of public property as well as money laundering. He pleaded not guilty.

The court shifted its ruling on his main bail application to March 31, 2026.

In a different case, the Department of State Services (DSS) has dragged him before the Federal High Court in Abuja. He faces allegations of unlawful interception of communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, contrary to the Cybercrimes Act. Arraignment is set for April 23, 2026.

El-Rufai has fired back with counter-suits against the security agencies. He is demanding damages for what he calls unlawful raids on his Abuja home and illegal wiretapping.

The cases started in February 2026 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) first picked him up over alleged ₦423 billion misappropriation. The ICPC re-arrested him soon after he got administrative bail from the EFCC.

The temporary bail gives the former governor a short break from detention. He will now join his family in mourning at this difficult time.