Nasir El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, has been released from detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The commission granted him temporary release to enable him to participate in the burial rites of his late mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai. Hajiya Umma El-Rufai passed away in Egypt after a period of illness, reportedly receiving medical treatment in the North African country.
The ICPC had taken El-Rufai into custody on February 19, following his release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He was subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna alongside his former aide, Joel Adoga, on charges of alleged money laundering, fraud, and abuse of office. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court adjourned the hearing of El-Rufai's bail application to March 31.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has questioned the legality of El-Rufai's temporary release, pointing out that a detainee remanded by a court cannot be freed without the court's approval. Effiong has called on the ICPC to clarify the procedure used in granting the release.
The ICPC's decision to release Nasir El-Rufai on compassionate grounds raises questions about the agency's handling of high-profile cases. The fact that El-Rufai was granted temporary release without the court's approval is a worrying development. This decision has implications for the rule of law in Nigeria, where the judiciary is expected to uphold the rights of all citizens, regardless of their status or influence. The ICPC's actions may be seen as undermining the authority of the court and creating a double standard in the application of justice.
