Confusion Swirls Over El-Rufai’s Release As Son Deletes Statement, ICPC Silent

Confusion has arisen over reports that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, was granted temporary release from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following the death of his mother.

The uncertainty emerged after Bashir El-Rufai, the former governor’s son, deleted a (formerly Twitter) post in which he had announced his father’s release. Bashir had described the move as the end of what he called an unlawful detention, writing in the now-deleted post, “Alhamdulillah. 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.” He had also thanked supporters who stood by the family.

The removal of the post has raised questions about the accuracy of the claim. Attempts to obtain clarification from the ICPC were unsuccessful. The commission’s spokesperson, John Odey, did not respond to phone calls or messages sent via WhatsApp.

Earlier on Friday, the El-Rufai family announced the death of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, the former governor’s mother. The news was shared in a Facebook post by her grandson, Bello El-Rufai, who wrote, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came and to Him we shall all return. I would like to inform the public of the demise of my Grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai who passed away a few hours ago. She is the biological mother of our father, Mallam Nasir @elrufai. We are grateful for the life she lived and may Allah SWT bless her gentle soul. On behalf of our family, we seek your prayers.”

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody following his re-arrest after a prior detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned proceedings in the alleged fraud case against him to March 31, 2026, to hear pending applications, including his request for bail.

President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have extended condolences to the El-Rufai family. Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the late matriarch as a woman who lived a remarkable life, stating, “Nasir, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the passing of your beloved mother, Hajiya Umma, which happened today in Cairo. As someone who had also lost an old mother, I share in your grief.”

Atiku, in a separate statement, described her death as a “shocking development” and prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul. He added, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the El-Rufai family and friends and pray that Allah accepts her soul and grants her Al-Janna Firdaus.” The former presidential candidate noted that the late matriarch lived a fulfilled life marked by dignity, faith, and service to her family and community.