A Federal High Court in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the corruption case instituted against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Justice Rilwanu Aikawa delivered the ruling on Tuesday after adjourning the matter from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to consider arguments from both the prosecution and defence. The court admitted the former governor to bail in the sum of N200 million.

However, it ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions. ADC expels Nafiu Bala, Abejide, unveils next move FCT community students trek 7km to school in Niger As part of the conditions, the defendant is barred from making public comments on the case and must attend all court sittings. Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, declined to comment when approached by journalists after the proceedings.

Speaking with journalists, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, an associate of El-Rufai, disclosed that the court imposed about 10 bail conditions. He reiterated that the former governor would remain in ICPC custody until all conditions are met, including the provision of a surety with landed property and a traditional title. El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, also confirmed that his father had been granted bail.

Earlier on Tuesday, the former governor appeared before the Kaduna High Court for a hearing of a bail application in another criminal case. However, the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, adjourned ruling on the application to April 21, 2026. On Monday, the ICPC arraigned El-Rufai on an amended nine-count charge related to alleged fraud and abuse of office.

The anti-graft agency dropped Amadu Sule, the co-defendant, from the amended charge. In the amended charges, the ICPC accused El-Rufai of multiple infractions allegedly committed during his tenure in office. The nine-count charge includes allegations that El-Rufai induced the Kaduna State Government to release about N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.

The commission also alleged that the former governor approved and received approximately N289.8 million as severance allowance—far above the legally entitled sum of about N20 million—thereby conferring a corrupt advantage on himself. In another count, El-Rufai is accused of mismanaging over $1.08 million, part of a World Bank loan to the state, in violation of the loan agreement. The ICPC further alleged that he conspired with an associate, said to be at large, to offer monetary inducements to federal investigators in a bid to compromise an ongoing probe involving a private firm.

Other charges include the alleged unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract in the Kaduna metropolis in breach of procurement laws, as well as conferring undue advantage on an associate through the same contract. The commission also accused the former governor of abuse of office in land-related matters, including the revocation and reallocation of a parcel of land along the Kaduna–Zaria bypass to benefit an associate and related companies. He was further accused of criminal breach of trust in respect of the same property.

El-Rufai has, however, denied all the allegations against him. The former governor has been in ICPC custody since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He was, however, temporarily released on March 27 on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial.

El-Rufai’s son speaks on father’s bail Member representing Kaduna North in the House of Representatives and son of the former governor, Bello El-Rufai, has reacted to the Federal High Court’s decision to grant bail to his father, expressing gratitude while calling for respect for the judicial process. Speaking shortly after the ruling, he thanked members of the press, the legal team, and supporters. He described the bail decision as a welcome development, adding, “We are, of course, happy that he has been granted bail today.” However, he cautioned against media interference in legal proceedings, stressing the need to distinguish between public commentary and judicial facts.

“Let me make it clear once again that there is media opinion and there is legal opinion. It is wrong to speculate on what happens in a court of law,” he said, noting that the judge had also emphasised this point during proceedings. While deferring detailed legal questions to his father’s lawyers, Bello El-Rufai clarified that he was speaking from a personal perspective.

“I speak as a son; the lawyers are best placed to address those questions,” he added. He expressed pride in his father and confidence in the country’s institutions, stating, “We are proud of Malam, we are proud of this country, and we are proud of the rule of law.” He urged the media to remain objective as the case progresses. “We hope the media will continue to cover this case objectively as the trial begins,” he s