FORMER Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is set to continue his trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged corruption, money laundering and abuse of office, as the court has also granted him access to medical treatment while in custody.
News Point Nigeria reports that El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga, on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of proceeds of corruption, as well as money laundering contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case, which has attracted significant public attention, resumed amid tight security at the court premises in Kaduna.
On April 14, the trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, granted the former governor bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court, however, ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
Justice Aikawa also directed that one of the sureties must be a serving civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler.
In addition, the court barred El-Rufai from making public comments on the case and mandated him to attend all court sittings.
When the matter came up yesterday, the former governor was present in court, although it remained unclear whether he had fully met the bail conditions.
Reporters were barred from entering the courtroom, limiting public and media access to the proceedings, while his counsel, Ubong Akpan, declined comments when approached by journalists after the session.
Yesterday’s proceedings centred mainly on preliminary matters as the case gradually moves into substantive hearing.
Meanwhile, the ICPC disclosed on Wednesday that the Federal High Court had granted El-Rufai access to medical treatment while in custody following a compassionate plea by his defence counsel.
According to a statement issued by ICPC spokesman, John Odey, the defence counsel urged the court to direct the commission to allow the former governor access to medical treatment, specifically dental and eye care, at designated facilities in Abuja.
The defence specifically requested permission for treatment at Mile Dental Clinic and Skipper Eye-Q Hospital in Abuja.
“In the course of proceedings, the defence counsel also made a compassionate plea urging the court to direct the commission to allow the defendant access to medical treatment, specifically for dental and eye care, at designated facilities in Abuja,” the statement read.
Ruling on the application, Justice Aikawa granted the request and directed the ICPC to convey El-Rufai under strict supervision to the medical facilities whenever necessary and return him to custody immediately after treatment.
The court stressed that all movements relating to the medical visits must remain under the strict supervision of the commission.
Odey stated that the commission would fully comply with the court’s orders while ensuring lawful custody of the defendant pending fulfilment of his bail conditions.
The administrative bail earlier granted to the second defendant, Joel Adoga, was also adopted by the court.
The matter had earlier been adjourned to May 7, 2026, for ruling on the application seeking variation of the bail conditions.
The court is expected to continue hearing the matter today as proceedings in the high-profile trial intensify.