Court grants El-Rufai ₦200m bail, orders ICPC custody

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged corruption charges.

The bail was granted on Tuesday following his trial by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which had taken him into custody.

The trial judge, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, admitted him to bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum, describing the conditions as “strict and extensive.”

Despite the bail approval, the court ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody until all the conditions attached to the bail are fully met.

As part of the conditions, the sureties must deposit their passports with the court, with one required to be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler.

The court also barred the former governor from making public comments about the case and directed him to attend all court sittings.

The case was earlier adjourned from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to allow both the prosecution and defence to present their arguments before the ruling was delivered.

El-Rufai will remain in custody until he meets all bail conditions, as the trial over alleged corruption continues.