Court Grants El-Rufai N200m Bail

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Governor of Kaduna State and minister of Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nasir El-Rufai, in an ongoing corruption charge filed against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

In his ruling on Tuesday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, granted the bail application in the sum of N200 million, with two suretiies in the like sum. The two sureties 

Aikawa had earlier reserved judgment on April 1, 2026, to review submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.

He also, directed that El-Rufai remain in the custody of the ICPC until all the conditions were fully met, even as the sureties must surrender their international passports to the court.

Additionally, one of the sureties must be a serving civil servant of not less than Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler.

The court furthermore, imposed further restrictions on the defendant, including a prohibition on making public statements related to the case. He was equally ordered to attend all court proceedings without fail.

Although legal counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, declined to comment on the outcome of the proceedings, confirmation of the bail was provided by his son, Bello El-Rufai.

Further corroboration came from a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, who noted that the bail conditions extend beyond financial guarantees to include requirements such as landed property and the involvement of a traditional ruler as one of the sureties.3

He emphasised that the conditions attached to the bail are extensive and must be fulfilled before El-Rufai can secure his release from custody.

Meanwhile, proceedings in a separate but related corruption matter involving the former governor at the Kaduna State High Court have been adjourned.

The court fixed April 21, 2026, for a ruling on his bail application in that case, prolonging the series of legal challenges currently confronting him.