Court grants El-Rufai N200m bail, orders detention until conditions are met

Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna state governor has been granted bail in the sum of N200 million by a Federal High Court in Kaduna over alleged corruption charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Despite the ruling, the court ordered that he remain in ICPC custody pending full compliance with the bail terms.

Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, who delivered the ruling on Tuesday, described the conditions attached to the bail as “strict and extensive” after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence.

Under the terms, El-Rufai must produce two sureties in like sum. One must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a recognised traditional ruler.

The court also directed both sureties to surrender their passports and ordered the former governor to refrain from making public comments about the case.

He was further instructed to attend all court sittings as the trial progresses.

Shortly after the proceedings, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan, declined to speak with journalists. However, his son, Bello El-Rufai, confirmed that bail had been approved.

Hayatudeen Makarfi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also confirmed the development, saying the conditions included financial obligations, landed property requirements and the presentation of a traditional ruler as surety.

He noted that El-Rufai would remain in custody until all requirements are fulfilled.

The ruling came amid a fresh wave of legal challenges for the former governor.

Earlier on Tuesday, a separate bail application before the Kaduna State High Court was postponed until April 21 after the presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, was unable to deliver his ruling.

The ICPC had earlier arraigned El-Rufai alongside Amadu Sule, the managing director of TMDK Terminal Limited, on charges bordering on abuse of office, fraud and undue advantage.

However, prosecutors later amended the charges, dropped Sule from the case and made El-Rufai the sole defendant.

Speaking after the earlier adjournment, Akpan said the delay was due to circumstances beyond the court’s control.

“His Lordship was bereaved and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen,” he said.

He added, “So the ruling has been adjourned to Tuesday next week. The ruling on the motion for bail. So, fingers crossed.”

The former governor was later moved to the Federal High Court, where he is also facing a separate 10-count charge, deepening what has become a complex multi-court legal battle.