The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has released Malam Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State.

El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 19, 2026

He was arrested after leaving custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he was grilled for 48 hours.

The ICPC had arraigned him on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering.

He was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna, which adjourned his application for bail till March 31.

But hours after his mother died in Cairo, Egypt, the anti-graft agency freed the former governor, who has denied all the allegations leveled against him.

An ally of El-Rufai confirmed his release to Daily Trust but did not go into details.

Bashir El-Rufai, the former governor’s son, also confirmed that his father had been set free.

There are strong indications that the release is on compassionate grounds as the remains of the former governor’s mother would be flown in from Cairo on Saturday, according to family sources.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu; Governor Uba Sani; and Malam Nuhu Ribadu, have all condoled with El-Rufai over his mother’s death.

Their comments have attracted divergent reactions on social media, with some describing the ordeal of the former governor as a family affair among the elites.