By Adesakin Adefemi
The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the sum of N200 million over alleged corruption charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The court, however, ordered that he remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of all bail conditions.
Justice Rilwanu Aikawa delivered the ruling after adjourning the matter from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to consider submissions from the prosecution and defence. He described the bail terms as strict and extensive, requiring two sureties in like sum.
As part of the conditions, the sureties must deposit their passports with the court. The judge directed that one surety be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler. El-Rufai is also barred from making public comments relating to the case and must attend all court sittings.
Counsel for the former governor, Ubong Akpan, declined comment after proceedings. El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, confirmed the bail grant. Hayatudeen Makarfi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, also confirmed the development, noting that the conditions include financial requirements and landed property. He stressed that El-Rufai will remain in custody until the terms are met.
Earlier on Tuesday, a related matter at the Kaduna State High Court was stalled after Justice Darius Khobo adjourned ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application to April 21, 2026. The adjournment followed the judge’s inability to deliver the ruling as earlier scheduled.
The ICPC had on March 18, 2026, arraigned El-Rufai alongside the Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, Amadu Sule, before the Kaduna State High Court under Charge No. KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26. The initial charges bordered on alleged abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
The prosecution amended the charges on Monday, dropping Sule from the case and narrowing the trial to El-Rufai alone. Akpan attributed the adjournment at the state court to circumstances beyond the court’s control, saying the judge was bereaved and could not prepare the ruling.
Shortly after the state court session, El-Rufai was moved to the Federal High Court, where he was arraigned on a separate 10-count charge before Justice Aikawa. The former governor faces ongoing legal proceedings in both the state and federal courts.
