Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been released from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) weeks after his arrest over alleged corruption charges.
El-Rufai, who had been in detention since February 19, 2026, was initially arrested shortly after leaving the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, where he had undergone 48 hours of interrogation.
The ICPC had subsequently arraigned him before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering.
The court, however, adjourned hearing on his bail application till March 31.
His release on Friday came shortly after the death of his mother in Cairo, Egypt, fuelling indications that the anti-graft agency granted him freedom on compassionate grounds.
A close ally confirmed the development, while his son, Bashir El-Rufai, also corroborated that the former governor had regained his freedom.
Family sources disclosed that the remains of the deceased matriarch are expected to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday for burial rites.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations levelled against him by the anti-graft agencies.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, have extended condolences to the former governor over his mother’s demise.
However, the development has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians describing the circumstances surrounding his detention and release as reflective of elite influence in the country’s justice system.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had yet to issue an official statement detailing the conditions attached to his release.
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