Hajiya Rakiya El-Rufai, mother of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has died in Cairo, Egypt, after a prolonged illness.
She passed away on Friday at an advanced age, leaving behind children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Bello El-Rufai, eldest son of the former governor and a member of the House of Representatives, confirmed the development in a statement, noting that she died in Cairo where she had been living with her son since he left office in 2023.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. From Allah we came and to Him we shall 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. We are grateful for the life she lived and pray that Allah grants her eternal rest,” he stated, while seeking prayers for the family.
The late matriarch was described by family members as a devoted mother and grandmother who lived a quiet life and remained close to her children and extended family.
El-Rufai, a former governor of Kaduna State, has been in Cairo since leaving office in 2023.
The development comes days after he was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on March 24, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The case is currently before the court.