Breaking: El-Rufai Freed From ICPC Custody After Dramatic Detention

The development was disclosed on Friday by his son, Bashir El-Rufai, in a post on , where he announced his father’s release and expressed gratitude to supporters.

El-Rufai was reportedly released to allow him attend the burial rites of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday.

Although the ICPC had not issued an official statement as of the time of reporting, an aide to the former governor confirmed that the release was granted on compassionate grounds following the family’s loss.

The anti-graft agency is currently investigating El-Rufai over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023. He has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026.

Prior to his detention, El-Rufai was also questioned by the Department of State Services (DSS) over claims that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had been tapped.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna had earlier denied him bail on Tuesday and adjourned the case to March 31, 2026. He was arraigned by the ICPC on charges related to alleged money laundering, with both prosecution and defence presenting arguments during the hearing, while his counsel, Ukpon Akpan, sought bail on his behalf.