From Mustapha Saye
Federal High Court in Kaduna on Monday granted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai bail on a N200 million bond, pending the determination of corruption-related charges filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Presiding judge Justice Rilwan Aikawa delivered the ruling after hearing final arguments from both the defence and prosecution last week.
Lead defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, had argued that bail is a constitutional right and that El-Rufai poses no flight risk due to his strong ties within the country.
The prosecution opposed the application, citing concerns that the former governor could influence witnesses or interfere with ongoing investigations.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18 in connection with a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering during his tenure as governor.
The ICPC alleges he received inflated severance payments totaling ₦579.7 million and suspicious deposits amounting to $817,900 in his domiciliary accounts while in office.
While the Federal High Court granted bail today, a separate bail application before the Kaduna State High Court was adjourned to April 21, 2026.
The former governor is also facing a separate case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. In that matter, filed by the Department of State Services over alleged cybercrime offences, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik last week declined an oral bail application and fixed April 23, 2026, for arraignment.
The ICPC said it will continue with its prosecution, while El-Rufai’s legal team has maintained that the charges are politically motivated.
