Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has regained his freedom after spending 50 days in detention.
He is now back home following what El-Rufai described as an unjustified incarceration.
El-Rufai in an X tweet on Wednesday confirmed his release, stating, “Bashir has been my friend for over 53 years – a Barewa College classmate, former Commissioner of Local Government, and of Finance, and former Chief of Staff.”
His detention, El-Rufai claimed, was politically motivated.
“That is the main reason behind his persecution, and the payback to those behind it will be known on or before the 2027 elections, in sha Allah,” he added.
In early January, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arraigned Saidu on charges of alleged money laundering.
Saidu, who also served as Commissioner of Finance under El-Rufai’s administration, was arraigned alongside Ibrahim Muktar, a civil servant in the state’s Ministry of Finance, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
According to case file No. FHC/KD/IC/2025, published by Daily Trust, the defendants face two counts of money laundering.
Court documents state that in March 2022, while serving as Commissioner of Finance, Saidu allegedly accepted a cash payment of ₦155 million from Ibrahim Muktar, exceeding the legally permitted amount.
The funds were reportedly received through his Special Assistant, Muazu Abdu.
This act, according to prosecutors, violates Section 2(a) and is punishable under Section 19(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The ICPC further alleges that in the same period, Saidu indirectly took control of the ₦155 million, which he “reasonably ought to have known” was proceeds of corruption. This, the commission says, constitutes an offence under Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Under Section 18(3), anyone found guilty of such violations faces a prison term of four to 14 years, a fine of at least five times the value of the illicit funds, or both.
The charge, signed by ICPC Assistant Chief Legal Officer Osuobeni Akponimisingha, was filed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly, in a report, accused former Governor Nasir El-Rufai of allegedly diverting over ₦423 billion in state funds.
