The legal troubles of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna granted him bail in the sum of N200 million, but with stringent conditions that effectively keep him in custody for now.
Presiding judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, ruled that the former governor must produce two sureties in like sum before he can enjoy the bail, underscoring the gravity of the corruption charges brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Despite the bail approval, the court directed that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody pending the full satisfaction of the conditions, signaling a cautious judicial approach in a case that has drawn significant public and political attention.
The court further tightened the bail terms by mandating that one of the sureties must be a serving civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a recognised traditional ruler, a requirement seen by observers as both symbolic and strategic.
In addition, both sureties are to deposit their international passports with the court, while the defendant himself has been expressly barred from making public statements relating to the case, a move aimed at preserving the integrity of ongoing proceedings.
Legal analysts say the conditions reflect the court’s intent to strike a balance between the constitutional right to bail and the need to ensure the defendant’s availability for trial in a high-stakes corruption prosecution.
Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, declined to comment on the ruling, maintaining silence amid mounting scrutiny, while political allies and observers continue to monitor developments closely.
Confirmation of the bail came from El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, who acknowledged the court’s decision but refrained from further elaboration on efforts to meet the conditions.
Also lending credence to the development, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Hayatudeen Lawal Makarfi, disclosed that the bail package includes additional requirements such as proof of landed property, reinforcing the strict compliance threshold set by the court.
Meanwhile, the former governor’s legal battle is far from over, as a separate bail application in another corruption case before the Kaduna State High Court has been adjourned to April 21, 2026, extending what is shaping up to be a prolonged and closely watched courtroom contest.