An associate of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has disclosed details of the ex-governor’s time in detention, revealing that he devoted himself to fasting, religious study, and intellectual pursuits while in custody.
El-Rufai was released hours after his mother’s death in Cairo, Egypt, ending a period of detention that began on February 19, 2026, when he was taken into custody by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). His release came shortly after he was arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering.
In a post on X shortly after El-Rufai returned home, Bashir Garba Sufyan, an associate, shared details of the former governor’s routine while in detention.
“Alhamdulillah, Mallam is home with his family, friends and associates,” Sufyan wrote. “The first thing he told us was that, since his detention, he had been fasting until yesterday. He also completed the Holy Qur’an while in detention, read 10 books, and has written some as well. And you wonder why he’s great and undefeated.”
El-Rufai’s son, Bashir El-Rufai, also confirmed his father’s release, though neither he nor the family provided further details.
The former governor’s legal troubles began earlier in February when he was first grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for 48 hours before being taken into ICPC custody. The anti-graft agency later arraigned him before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on charges of money laundering and the alleged conversion of public property. He has denied all allegations.
The court had adjourned his bail application until March 31. However, following news of his mother’s passing, the ICPC released him. An ally of the former governor confirmed the development to Daily Trust but declined to elaborate.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu have all condoled with El-Rufai over the death of his mother. Their messages have drawn mixed reactions on social media, with some commentators framing the former governor’s detention and subsequent release as a reflection of elite privilege.