From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, in the corruption case instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
The trial judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, delivered the ruling on Tuesday after earlier adjourning the matter from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to consider arguments from both the prosecution and defense. Justice Aikawa admitted the former governor to bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court, however, ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions. As part of the conditions, the sureties are required to deposit their international passports with the court. The court further directed that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognized traditional ruler.
In addition, the defendant is barred from making public comments relating to the case and must attend all court sittings. Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, declined to comment when approached by journalists shortly after proceedings.
However, El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, confirmed that his father had been granted bail. A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, also corroborated the development, noting that the bail came with multiple conditions, including financial requirements, the provision of landed property, and the involvement of a recognized traditional ruler as surety.
He added that the numerous conditions must be met before the former governor can regain his freedom, stressing that El-Rufai would remain in ICPC custody pending compliance. Meanwhile, at the Kaduna State High Court, ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application in a separate corruption case filed by the ICPC has been adjourned to April 21, 2026, further extending the legal battle facing the former governor.
