BREAKING: Hajiya Umma El-Rufai mother of ex-governor El-Rufai is dead

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Ayorinde

Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, the mother of former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai is dead.

Hajiya El-Rufai died on Friday, according to a short statement published by her grandson, Bello El-Rufai, a member of House of Representatives on his X handle late Friday afternoon.

The House of Representatives member said the El-Rufai matriarch passed away few hours before he made the post.

Bello, had in the short statement said, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came and to Him we shall all return. I would like to inform the public of the demise of my Grandmother, who passed away a few hours ago.

“She is the biological mother of our father, Mallam Nasir @elrufai. We are grateful for the life she lived and may Allah SWT bless her gentle soul. May He bless the soul of the parents we have lost. On behalf of our family, we seek your prayers. Thank you.

Hajiya El-Rufai was the second close family member that the former Kaduna governor will lose since he was detained by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC on 5th March 2026,” the statement said.

He was however arraigned alongside one Joel Adoga before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged money laundering and corruption-related offences on 24 March, 2026.

ICPC had accused El-Rufai of unlawfully taking possession of N289.8 million as severance allowance on two occasions in September 2020 and January 2023, bringing the total to about N579 million, far above the legally entitled sum of about N20 million.

He, however, pleaded not guilty. The court ordered his remand in the custody of ICPC while the matter was adjourned to March 31 for the hearing of his bail application.