A FEDERAL High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in a corruption case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
News Point Nigeria report that the ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, who had earlier adjourned proceedings from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to consider submissions from both the prosecution and defence.
The court admitted the former governor to bail in the sum of N200 million. However, it ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
As part of the conditions, the court barred the defendant from making public comments on the case and directed him to attend all court sittings.
Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, declined to comment when approached by journalists after the proceedings.
Speaking with journalists, an associate of the former governor, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, disclosed that the court imposed about 10 bail conditions. He reiterated that El-Rufai would remain in ICPC custody until all conditions are met, including the provision of a surety with landed property and a traditional title.
El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, also confirmed that his father had been granted bail.
Earlier on Tuesday, the former governor had appeared before the Kaduna State High Court for hearing on a separate bail application in another criminal case. However, the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on the application to April 21, 2026.
On Monday, the ICPC formally arraigned El-Rufai on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office. The commission dropped Amadu Sule from the revised charge.
In the amended charges, the anti-graft agency accused El-Rufai of multiple infractions allegedly committed during his tenure in office. These include claims that he induced the Kaduna State Government to release about N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.
The ICPC also alleged that the former governor approved and received approximately N289.8 million as severance allowance—far above the legally stipulated amount of about N20 million—thereby conferring a corrupt advantage on himself.
In another count, El-Rufai is accused of mismanaging over $1.08 million, part of a World Bank loan to the state, in violation of the loan agreement.
The commission further alleged that he conspired with an associate, said to be at large, to offer monetary inducements to federal investigators in a bid to compromise an ongoing probe involving a private firm.
Other allegations include the unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract in the Kaduna metropolis in breach of procurement laws, as well as conferring undue advantage on an associate through the same contract.
The ICPC also accused the former governor of abuse of office in land-related matters, including the revocation and reallocation of a parcel of land along the Kaduna–Zaria bypass to benefit an associate and related companies. He was further accused of criminal breach of trust in respect of the same property.
El-Rufai has, however, denied all the allegations levelled against him.
The former governor has remained in ICPC custody since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was temporarily released on March 27 on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Bello El-Rufai expressed appreciation while urging respect for due process. He thanked members of the press, the legal team, and supporters for their roles.
He described the bail ruling as a welcome development, stating, “We are, of course, happy that he has been granted bail today.”
However, he cautioned against media speculation, stressing the need to distinguish between public opinion and judicial facts. “Let me make it clear once again that there is media opinion and there is legal opinion. It is wrong to speculate on what happens in a court of law,” he said, noting that the judge had also emphasised this during proceedings.
While deferring detailed legal issues to his father’s lawyers, he clarified that his remarks were personal. “I speak as a son; the lawyers are best placed to address those questions,” he added.
He further expressed confidence in the country’s institutions, saying, “We are proud of Malam, we are proud of this country, and we are proud of the rule of law,” while urging the media to maintain objectivity as the trial progresses.
Meanwhile, a Kaduna-based legal practitioner, El Zubair Abubakar, explained that El-Rufai may not regain his freedom immediately despite being granted bail due to the existence of two separate criminal cases in different courts.
According to him, while the Federal High Court has granted bail, release is conditional upon meeting its requirements and applies strictly to that case alone.
“There are two cases against the former governor in two different courts. The Federal High Court has granted him bail, and he can only be released after meeting those conditions, but that is limited to that court,” he said.
He noted that a separate case remains pending before the Kaduna State High Court, where bail has yet to be granted, making immediate release unlikely.
“In reality, he will not be released yet because he is facing another trial in a different court that has not granted bail. Technically, he will remain in custody until that court also grants bail and he meets the conditions set by both courts,” Abubakar explained.
He added that El-Rufai can proceed to meet the Federal High Court’s bail conditions while awaiting the outcome of the State High Court ruling, expressing optimism that bail would likely be granted in the second case, as the offences are generally bailable under Nigerian law.