A fresh wave of grief has struck the family of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El‑Rufai, following the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, at a time when the embattled politician remains entangled in a high-profile money laundering trial.
The announcement was made Friday afternoon by his son, Bello El‑Rufai, who disclosed the development in a brief but emotional public statement.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah SWT we came and to Him we shall all return,” Bello wrote.
“I would like to inform the public of the demise of my grandmother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai who passed away a few hours ago. She is the biological mother of our father, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. We are grateful for the life she lived and may Allah SWT bless her gentle soul.”
He added: “On behalf of our family, we seek your prayers. Thank you.”
The announcement comes amid mounting legal pressure on the former governor, who is currently facing trial over alleged money laundering and financial impropriety charges before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai was earlier arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged financial misconduct. He pleaded not guilty to all counts when the charges were read in court.
The case was subsequently adjourned to March 31, 2026, for the commencement of trial and hearing of pending applications, including his bail request.
The former governor, who appeared in court under heavy security presence involving operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force, is alleged to have been involved in suspicious financial transactions, including deposits into a domiciliary account.
However, his legal team has maintained that the former governor is directly connected to only one of the charges.
“The charges against Malam El-Rufai are essentially allegations of deposits into his domiciliary account and the monetisation of his earnings,” his lawyer told journalists after the court proceedings.
“Out of about 10 counts filed, he was joined in only one.”
The defence further argued that the prosecution insisted on arraignment despite pending applications before the court, but the judge exercised discretion to proceed while fixing a later date to address outstanding matters.
“What happened is that the prosecution applied to arraign him, and I respectfully pointed out that since Malam El-Rufai had pending proceedings before the court, the judge, in his wisdom, decided to proceed with the arraignment and also adjourned the matter,” the lawyer explained.
On the issue of bail, the defence confirmed that although an application had already been filed, it could not be heard immediately.
“As for bail, no application could be made today. The arraignment took place today, and the bail application has been filed. The matter has been adjourned to March 31 for the hearing of the bail application,” the lawyer added.
Chronicles Reporters had earlier reported that the former governor’s arraignment drew an unusual level of security deployment, underscoring the sensitivity and political significance of the case.
The death of Hajiya Umma El-Rufai now adds a personal tragedy to what has become an increasingly difficult period for the El-Rufai family, as the former governor continues to battle both legal challenges and growing political tensions.
As condolences pour in from political allies, associates, and supporters, the family has appealed for prayers while preparing for burial rites in accordance with Islamic traditions.