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Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been granted temporary bail from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after weeks in detention.
According to his aide, the release was approved on compassionate grounds following the demise of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who died after a long period of illness.
The former governor’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, also shared the news of his father’s release on X on Friday night.
“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, that is a lame excuse of a pathetic institution. Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais,” he wrote.
The ICPC has, however, yet to issue a statement regarding the terms of his temporary release.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18. He is being prosecuted over allegations of financial misconduct, money laundering, and national security breaches.
The legal battles follow a series of events that began on February 16, 2026, when El-Rufai was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ₦423 billion misappropriation. He was granted administrative bail on February 18 but was immediately re-arrested by the ICPC.
El-Rufai has, however, filed counter-suits challenging the authorities’ actions. In one suit, he is seeking ₦1 billion in damages against the ICPC and other agencies over a February 19 raid on his Abuja residence, which he claims was unlawful.
He is also asking the court to declare the search warrant invalid and to restrain the use of any evidence obtained during the operation.
In a separate action against the Department of State Services (DSS), he is seeking ₦2 billion in damages and has asked the court to dismiss the wiretapping charges, describing them as unconstitutional harassment.
