BREAKING: Fresh Tragedy Hits El-Rufai

Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, mother of Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has passed away.

Details of her death were sketchy as of the time of filing this story, but it reportedly happened on Friday afternoon.

Hon Bello El-Rufai, the deceased’s grandson, has confirmed the development.

“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.”

“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 wrote on Facebook.

The development comes at a time when El-Rufai is in custody.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned him on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering after one month in detention.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned the hearing of the bail application to March 31.

The presiding judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, fixed the date after listening to arguments from both the defence and prosecution on Tuesday.