Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the House of Representatives member representing Kaduna North and Chairman of the Committee on Banking Regulations, has described frequent calls from Peter Obi as a profound life lesson.
In a video circulating online, Bello disclosed that several prominent politicians — including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso — have reached out to inquire about the welfare of his father, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, who remains in detention.
“Politicians like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Kwankwaso and others called me to ask about my dad,” Bello said. “I would like to thank them, particularly Mr Peter Obi. He always called me to ask about my dad. And for me, at 38, it’s a lesson in life because, in the case of Obi, I used to be critical of him.”
He added that his father is making productive use of the isolation: finishing books, catching up on reading, studying the Quran, reflecting and planning ahead.
Nasir El-Rufai was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on 18 February 2026 over alleged fraud linked to his time as governor. Between March and April 2026 he faced multiple arraignments, including a 10-count money-laundering charge by the ICPC on 24 March, interception by the Department of State Services (DSS) on 1 April, further ICPC charges relating to rail and CCTV contracts, and a formal DSS arraignment in Abuja on 23 April over alleged communication interception.
In May, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail of ₦100 million with one surety in the DSS case involving an alleged national security breach and unauthorised access to a telephone conversation of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. In June the same judge refused an application to vary the stringent bail conditions.
