An associate of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed that the former governor spent much of his time fasting, studying religious texts and reading books while in detention.
The associate, Bashir Garba Sufyan, shared details of El-Rufai’s activities during his time in custody in a post on his 𝕏 account shortly after the former governor regained freedom.
According to Sufyan, El-Rufai focused on spiritual and intellectual activities throughout the period of his detention.
He said, “Alhamdulillah, Mallam is home with his family, friends and associates. 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.”
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had earlier released El-Rufai after detaining him since February 19, 2026.
He was taken into custody shortly after leaving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, where he had been questioned for about 48 hours.
The anti-graft agency later arraigned the former governor before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering.
El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the court adjourned the hearing of his bail application to March 31.
However, the commission released him hours after news emerged that his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, had died in Cairo, Egypt, after a period of illness.
The former governor has denied all allegations against him.
An ally of El-Rufai also confirmed his release to Daily Trust, though details of the circumstances surrounding the release were not disclosed.
His son, Bashir El-Rufai, later confirmed that his father had regained freedom.
Meanwhile, several prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, have sent condolence messages to El-Rufai over the death of his mother.
