El-Rufai Gets N200m Bail in ICPC Case
A Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday approved bail for former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai in the corruption case prosecuted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, setting conditions that his legal team must satisfy before the former governor walks free.
Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, the presiding judge, admitted El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum, describing the terms as “strict and extensive.” The ruling came after the court had adjourned the matter from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to allow both the prosecution and defence to present their respective arguments on the application.
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Under the conditions, El-Rufai is to remain in ICPC custody until every bail requirement is fully met. Both sureties are required to deposit their passports with the court. One surety must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler. Additionally, the former governor is barred from making any public comments relating to the case and must attend all court sittings.
El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Ubong Akpan, declined to speak with journalists immediately after proceedings. However, his son Bello El-Rufai confirmed the bail grant. An ADC chieftain, Hayatudeen Makarfi, also confirmed the development, noting the bail came with financial requirements, landed property, and the condition involving a traditional ruler as surety.
The ruling capped a turbulent day in court that had begun earlier at the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, where Justice Darius Khobo adjourned ruling on a separate bail application to April 21, 2026, after being unable to deliver the decision as scheduled.
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“His Lordship was bereaved and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen,” Akpan told journalists. “So the ruling has been adjourned to Tuesday next week. The ruling on the motion for bail. So, fingers crossed,” he added.
The Kaduna State High Court proceedings relate to Charge No. KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, under which El-Rufai was initially arraigned alongside Amadu Sule, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, on March 18, 2026. The prosecution amended the charges on Monday, dropping Sule from the case and leaving El-Rufai as the sole defendant. Akpan accused the ICPC of pursuing phased litigation against his client, with proceedings now running simultaneously in both the state and federal courts.
Shortly after the state court session, El-Rufai was moved to the Federal High Court, where he was arraigned on a separate 10-count charge before Justice Aikawa. The counts include alleged inducement of the Kaduna State Government to confer a N11 billion benefit on a light rail contractor, receipt of severance allowance of approximately N289.8 million against a legally approved N20 million, dishonest disposal of over $1 million from a World Bank loan, alleged conspiracy to compromise an ongoing investigation, violations of procurement laws in a CCTV contract award, conferring undue advantage on associates, and unlawful land allocations.
El-Rufai had been in ICPC custody from February 19 before being temporarily released on compassionate grounds on March 27, 2026, following the death of his mother in Cairo, Egypt. He was subsequently returned to custody before Tuesday’s proceedings.
The former governor has not publicly commented on the charges, with his legal team handling communications. El-Rufai served as Kaduna State Governor for two terms between 2015 and 2023, and previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.