El-Rufai loses mother amid ongoing legal battle

Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has passed away.

While details surrounding her death remain limited, family sources confirmed that she died on Friday afternoon.

Her grandson, Hon Bello El-Rufai, shared the news on Facebook, expressing sorrow and gratitude for her life.

“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, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, who passed away a few hours ago,” he wrote.

“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,” Bello added.

The news comes at a challenging time for El-Rufai, who is currently facing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The anti-graft agency had arraigned him on a 10-count charge of alleged conversion of public property and money laundering after about a month in detention. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

During proceedings at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa adjourned the hearing of El-Rufai’s bail application to March 31, following submissions from both the defence and prosecution.

Family members and well-wishers have since begun offering condolences and prayers for the late matriarch, describing her as a devoted mother whose legacy will be remembered by her family and the wider community.

This development marks a somber moment for the El-Rufai family as they navigate personal loss alongside ongoing legal challenges.