“El-Rufai’s Controversial Statement: Lawyer Challenges ICPC on Release Protocols!”

Human rights attorney Inibehe Effiong has expressed apprehensions regarding the conditions surrounding the alleged release of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

This follows ICPC’s announcement on Friday that it has freed El-Rufai after his mother, Hajiya Umma, succumbed in Egypt.

In response, Effiong took to X to question the validity of the procedure, emphasizing that an individual detained by a court order cannot be released without appropriately referring back to the same court.

“An individual who’s detained under a court’s directive cannot be lawfully released without consulting the court,” he stated.

Moreover, he conveyed doubt over the situation, drawing a comparison to the late Afrobeat icon Fela Kuti’s critiques of governmental conduct, inquiring if this was “another governmental illusion.”

The attorney urged the anti-corruption agency to provide clarification on the process employed in facilitating El-Rufai’s release, particularly given that the former governor’s bail motion is reportedly set to be reviewed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

“@icpcnigeria, could you elucidate the method utilized in this instance? El-Rufai’s bail motion is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026. How was his release executed?” Effiong questioned.