Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been released from detention after 50 days.
El-Rufai confirmed the release on social media, describing Saidu’s incarceration as unjustified.
El-Rufai and Saidu have a long history, dating back over 53 years to their time as classmates at Barewa College.
Saidu has also served as Commissioner of Local Government, Finance, and Chief of Staff to under the El-Rufai administration.
El-Rufai claims that Saidu’s detention was politically motivated, vowing that “the payback to those behind it will be known on or before the 2027 elections”.
Saidu was arrested by the police unit Operation Fushin Kada and faced charges of alleged money laundering brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
