El-Rufai to remain in custody despite bail

A Federal High Court in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a corruption case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Despite the ruling, he will remain in custody until all bail requirements are completed.

Justice Rilwanu Aikawa delivered the ruling on Tuesday after hearing arguments from both sides. The case had been adjourned from April 1 to April 14 before the decision.

The court approved bail in the sum of N200 million and imposed several conditions, including a restriction on public comments about the case and a requirement to attend all court sessions. The bail also requires sureties with landed property and recognised traditional titles.

Although bail was granted, El-Rufai will not be released immediately as he is still held by the ICPC until all conditions are satisfied.

An associate of the former governor, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, said about 10 conditions were attached to the bail.

Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, did not comment after the ruling.

El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, confirmed the bail decision and expressed appreciation for the court process while urging restraint in public commentary on the case.

In a separate proceeding on the same day, another Kaduna court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on a different bail application involving El-Rufai to April 21, 2026.

The ICPC had earlier arraigned him on an amended nine-count charge covering allegations of fraud, abuse of office, and procurement breaches. The agency also dropped a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, from the case.

The allegations include the alleged diversion of about N11 billion for a light rail project that was never executed, approval of severance payments above statutory limits, and mismanagement of over $1.08 million linked to a World Bank loan.

Other counts involve a disputed N4.6 billion CCTV contract, alleged abuse of office in land allocations, and claims of criminal breach of trust. El-Rufai has denied all allegations.

He has been in ICPC custody since February 19, following earlier detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was temporarily released in March for his mother’s burial.

Legal practitioner Barrister El Zubair Abubakar said the former governor may remain in custody because two separate cases are ongoing in different courts. He explained that release depends on meeting bail conditions in the Federal High Court case and also securing bail in the pending state court matter.

He added that the Federal High Court ruling alone is not sufficient for immediate release until both legal processes are resolved.