The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday approved bail for former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in connection with corruption allegations brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Despite the ruling, the court directed that the ex-governor remain in the custody of the anti-graft agency until he satisfies all bail conditions.
Presiding judge, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, issued the decision after previously adjourning the case from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to review submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.
El-Rufai was granted bail in the sum of N200 million, with two sureties required to provide the same amount. The judge described the bail terms as stringent and far-reaching.
The court further ruled that the defendant must stay in ICPC custody until the conditions are fully met.
Among the requirements, the sureties must submit their international passports to the court. One of them must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler.
Additionally, El-Rufai is prohibited from making public statements about the case and is mandated to attend all court proceedings.
His lawyer, Ubong Akpan, declined to speak with journalists after the session. However, his son, Bello El-Rufai, confirmed that bail had been granted.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Hayatudeen Makarfi, also confirmed the development, noting that the bail conditions include financial obligations, landed property, and a traditional ruler as one of the sureties. He emphasised that the conditions must be fulfilled before El-Rufai can be released, meaning he will remain in ICPC custody until then.
Earlier in the day, proceedings at the Kaduna State High Court in a related case were delayed, as the court postponed its ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application to April 21, 2026.
The adjournment was due to the inability of the presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, to deliver the ruling as scheduled.
El-Rufai had been arraigned on March 18, 2026, by the ICPC 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 included alleged abuse of office, fraud, attempted fraud, and granting undue advantage. However, the prosecution later amended the charges, removing Sule from the case and focusing solely on El-Rufai.
Speaking after the adjournment, Akpan explained that the delay was due to unforeseen circumstances affecting the court.
“His Lordship was bereaved and could not finalise the ruling. These things happen,” he said, expressing optimism ahead of the new date.
“The ruling has now been moved to next Tuesday. We are hopeful,” he added.
Akpan also criticised the ICPC, accusing the agency of pursuing multiple legal actions against his client simultaneously, with cases now ongoing in both state and federal courts.
Following the proceedings at the state high court, El-Rufai was taken to the Federal High Court, where he faced a separate 10-count charge before Justice Aikawa.
The situation underscores the growing legal challenges confronting the former governor across different courts
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