Malam Nasir el-Rufai, the ex-governor of Kaduna State, has been set free by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
El-Rufai was detained by the ICPC starting from February 19, 2026.
His arrest came after he was released from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he underwent questioning for a duration of 48 hours.
The ICPC had brought a 10-count charge against him related to the alleged misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.
He was later taken to a Federal High Court in Kaduna, where the hearing regarding his bail application was postponed until March 31.
In a turn of events, following the death of his mother in Cairo, Egypt, the anti-corruption agency decided to release the former governor, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
An associate of El-Rufai confirmed his release to Daily Trust but did not provide further comment.
Bashir El-Rufai, the son of the former governor, also indicated that his father had been released.
Family sources suggest that the decision for El-Rufai's release may have been made on compassionate grounds, especially as arrangements are being made to bring his mother’s remains from Cairo this coming Saturday.
In the meantime, condolences have been extended to El-Rufai from President Bola Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, and Malam Nuhu Ribadu following his mother’s passing.
Responses on social media to these condolences have been mixed, with some viewing the former governor's circumstances as a situation typical among the elite.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!