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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, subject to the fulfilment of stringent conditions.
The court, presided over by Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, ordered that the defendant remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) until all bail conditions are met.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, El-Rufai’s son, Bello, disclosed that the bail conditions include the provision of a N200 million bond with two sureties in like sum.
According to him, the sureties must include a recognised traditional ruler and a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15.
He further stated that the conditions also require the submission of landed property documents, the deposit of international passports with the court, and a restriction preventing the former governor from making public comments related to the case.
Additionally, El-Rufai is expected to make himself available for all court proceedings.
“The conditions are many, close to 10 or more, but we hope to fulfil them,” Bello said.
The court had earlier, on April 1, 2026, adjourned the hearing of the bail application to April 14, 2026.
On the adjourned date, El-Rufai was escorted from the court premises by ICPC operatives in a white Hilux vehicle.
Meanwhile, the former governor is also facing a separate trial before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo, where he was arraigned alongside one Amadu Sule.
The duo are facing charges including abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage.
The charges before the State High Court, also instituted by the ICPC, are separate from those being heard at the Federal High Court.
Following the proceedings at the State High Court, El-Rufai was subsequently transferred to the Federal High Court within the same vicinity.
However, the Kaduna State High Court has again adjourned ruling on the bail application of El-Rufai to Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
The latest adjournment followed the inability of the trial judge, Darius Khobo, to deliver the ruling as earlier scheduled.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had, on March 18, 2026, arraigned El-Rufai alongside Amadu Sule, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, before the Kaduna State High Court under charge number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26.
The original charges filed by the ICPC ranged from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage, among others.
The prosecution however amendment the charges on Monday and dropped Sule from the case, narrowing the trial to only the Malam Nasir El-Rufai.
Speaking to journalist shortly after the adjournment on Tuesday, Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, said the development was due to circumstances beyond the court’s control.
According to him, the presiding judge was bereaved and could not finalise the ruling on the motion for bail.
“His lordship was bereaved and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen,” Akpan said.
He added that the defence would now await the new date, expressing cautious optimism ahead of the rescheduled ruling.
“So the ruling has been adjourned to Tuesday next week. The ruling on the motion for bail. So, fingers crossed,” he stated.
Akpan, however, took a swipe at the prosecution, accusing the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission of pursuing multiple charges against his client in what he described as phased litigation.
He said the legal battle had now been extended beyond the state court, noting that proceedings had shifted to the Federal High Court in a parallel case.
Shortly after the Kaduna High Court session, El-Rufai was moved to the Federal High Court, where he was arraigned on a separate 10-count charge before Rilwanu Aikawa.
