A member of the House of Representatives from Kaduna North, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, on Friday called for the unconditional and immediate release of his father, former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Bello said the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has kept El-Rufai in custody past the set date.
The lawmaker shared this in a statement he signed as he provided an update on the former governor’s continued detention.
The statement read, “In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful, I tried to stay away from social media so I could focus on Ramadan, my family, and my work for the good people of Kaduna North.
“I have decided to speak out now to give an update on the current situation regarding Mallam’s illegal detention for those who are interested.
“The last time I saw him, he was excitedly waiting for his case to begin in a fair and proper court. March 6, 2026 – The family of Nasir El-Rufai wants to speak to the public about the unfair and continued holding of our husband and father by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“As of today, March 6, 2026, Nasir El-Rufai is still in the custody of ICPC, and the situation has no legal grounds. We clearly say that there is no real legal document that allows his continued detention.
“To be clear, Mallam El-Rufai was first arrested on February 18, 2026. Defective Order: After he was arrested, the ICPC got a remand order from a magistrate court on February 19. However, this order was flawed from the beginning, and by law, it only allowed for a 14-day period of his detention.
“The 14-day period has now come to an end. The ICPC has not brought any charges against him in a proper court. They have not obtained a new or renewed legal permission to keep him detained.
“Even though the legal reasons for keeping him in custody have ended, the ICPC continues to hold him. This is no longer about following the law; it’s illegal and open defiance of the law.
“The ICPC has not fulfilled its basic duty to either charge him in a court that has the proper authority or set him free. The way forward is straightforward and makes sense: let him go right away.
“Their decision not to act shows what we have always worried about—that the ICPC is being used as a tool for political punishment instead of working as a fair and neutral body for justice. We are calling for the immediate and complete freedom of Nasir El-Rufai.”