Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been released by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following his mother’s demise.

The ex-governor’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, confirmed his father’s release from the custody of the ICPC via a post on X on Friday night.

“My beloved great legend of a father (@elrufai) is being released from his unlawful & 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,” Mr Bashir posted, adding “Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufai’s always do.”

A spokesperson for the ICPC, Okor Odey, did not immediately respond to an inquiry by Peoples Gazette about the conditions of Mr El-Rufai’s release from custody.

The demise of El-Rufai’s mother, Umma El-Rufai, was announced by her grandson, Bello El-Rufai, via Facebook earlier on Friday.

“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,” Mr Bello posted.

“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. May He bless the soul of the parents we have lost. On behalf of our family, we seek your prayers. Thank you,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr El-Rufai had been detained in ICPC custody since February 18 after his release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

On Tuesday, the ICPC arraigned Mr El-Rufai on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering after one month in detention.

The former governor pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned the hearing of the bail application to March 31. The presiding judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, fixed the date for hearing after listening to arguments from both the defence and prosecution on Tuesday.