Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai as Corruption Trial Deepens Amid Fresh Controversies
By Paul Ebi
The Federal High Court has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, marking a dramatic twist in the high-stakes corruption case brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Details of the bail conditions were not disclosed as of press time, but the decision is already being seen as a pivotal moment in a legal battle that has gripped political observers across the country.
El-Rufai’s release comes just hours after he appeared under heavy security at the Kaduna State High Court for the continuation of proceedings on his bail application in a related case. The strong security presence underscored the intense national interest and political sensitivity surrounding the trial.
Earlier proceedings were shrouded in secrecy, with journalists denied access to the courtroom—a development that sparked speculation and raised questions about transparency in the process.
The case itself has been marked by unexpected twists. Prosecutors recently filed an amended nine-count charge, significantly altering the structure of the allegations. Notably, one of the original defendants, Amadu Sule, was dropped, leaving El-Rufai as the sole accused.
Reacting to the move, his counsel, Ubong Akpan (SAN), expressed shock, stating that the defence team was served the revised charges in court without prior notice, forcing an abrupt halt to proceedings at the time.
Presiding judge, Darius Khobo, had earlier adjourned the matter to April 14, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application—now overtaken by the Federal High Court’s decision to grant bail.
The allegations against El-Rufai are sweeping and tied to his time in office. The ICPC claims he authorized the release of approximately N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed. He is also accused of approving and receiving about N289.8 million in severance benefits—far exceeding legal limits.
Other charges include the alleged mismanagement of over $1.08 million from a World Bank loan, the unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract in Kaduna in violation of procurement laws, and conspiracy to bribe federal investigators.
In a separate but related matter, El-Rufai is also standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa at the Federal High Court on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering and unlawful possession of public funds.
Despite the weight of the allegations, El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
With bail now secured, attention is expected to shift to the substantive trial, where the former governor will seek to clear his name amid mounting public scrutiny and political implications that could reverberate far beyond Kaduna State.
