By Adesakin Adefemi
The Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, denied the bail application of former governor Nasir El-Rufai, ruling that he must remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pending trial.
Presiding judge Darius Khobo held that it was “in the interest of justice” for El-Rufai to remain in custody to ensure his availability for trial. The ruling was contained in a certified true copy (CTC) of the court’s decision obtained by TheCable.
El-Rufai was arraigned by the ICPC on nine counts bordering on alleged conferment of benefit under false pretences and dishonest disposal of loan funds. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During the bail hearing, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, argued that the offences are non-capital and that the former governor, who also served as a minister, has deep community ties. The defence added that El-Rufai voluntarily returned from Egypt and has health conditions requiring specialist monitoring.
ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha opposed the application, describing the charges as “economically sabotaging.” The commission said there was a “genuine fear of interference with witnesses and ongoing investigations involving other persons still at large.”
The ICPC further told the court that El-Rufai allegedly obstructed law enforcement officers at Abuja airport in February and described him as a “flight risk with the means to evade trial due to his high standing in society.” The commission noted that no medical evidence was provided to substantiate the claim of ill health.
In his ruling, Justice Khobo said El-Rufai’s bail application “relies heavily” on his status as a former governor and minister, adding that his “high status is a double-edged sword.” The judge said ICPC’s apprehension that El-Rufai’s release may sabotage ongoing investigations into other suspects is “a weighty consideration.”
The court noted that El-Rufai failed to file a further affidavit to counter the ICPC’s “weighty depositions” in its counter-affidavit, leaving the commission’s claims unchallenged and deemed admitted. The judge also faulted the defence for not attaching medical evidence to support the ill-health claim, stressing that “credible evidence in that branch of medicine ought to be made available.”
Justice Khobo refused the bail application and ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the commencement of trial. He directed the prosecution to ensure the trial commences expeditiously and ordered an accelerated hearing on a day-to-day basis where practicable.
Following the ruling, both the prosecution and defence agreed that trial should commence in the first week of June. The case was adjourned to June 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2026, for trial.
