Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on Friday announced that his father has been released from detention, describing the development as a victory for his family.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Bashir expressed gratitude while strongly criticizing the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), which had detained the former governor over allegations of fraud and illegal wiretapping.
“Alhamdulillah. My beloved great legend of a father is being released from his unlawful and illegal detention at the hands of one of the most corrupt agencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he wrote.
He further described the anti-corruption agency as “a lame excuse of a pathetic institution,” intensifying criticism of the circumstances surrounding his father’s detention.
Bashir also thanked supporters who stood by the family during the period, noting that the experience would not be forgotten. “Thank you all for all the support. Our family shall never forget these times. We have overcome, as the El-Rufais always do,” he added.
The ICPC had earlier taken El-Rufai into custody as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct and claims of unlawful surveillance activities during his time in office. However, details surrounding the terms of his release were not immediately made public as of the time of filing this report.
The development is expected to generate fresh debate over the role and operations of anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria, as well as concerns about due process and political accountability.
Neither the ICPC nor officials close to the former governor have issued a formal statement clarifying the conditions of his release.
This comes as Nigerian Newssphere reports that El-Rufai’s mother died on Friday.
The former governor of Kaduna State has been under detention after he alleged in a television interview that he got a wiretap of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on his purported arrest.
