Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted temporary release from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The development was disclosed on Friday by his son, Bashir El-Rufai, in a post shared on 𝕏.
In the emotional message, Bashir announced his father’s release and expressed gratitude to supporters who stood by the family during the period of detention.
According to reports, the former governor’s release is temporary and was approved on compassionate grounds, allowing him to attend the funeral of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away earlier on Friday in Cairo, Egypt.
Although the ICPC has not yet issued an official statement, an aide to El-Rufai confirmed that the decision was linked to the family’s bereavement.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial mismanagement during his time in office between 2015 and 2023.
The anti-corruption agency is also prosecuting him over claims of money laundering.
Earlier in the week, a Federal High Court in Kaduna declined his bail application and adjourned the case until March 31, 2026.
During the court session, his legal counsel, Ukpon Akpan, had argued for his release, while the prosecution opposed the request.
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Prior to his detention by the ICPC, El-Rufai was also questioned by the Department of State Services (DSS) concerning his allegation that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had been tapped.
The case continues to draw public attention as legal proceedings unfold.