By Austine Agbo Emmanuel
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Recall that El-Rufai is facing allegations of financial misconduct, including issues related to deposits into his domiciliary account and the handling of his earnings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Under the bail terms, El-Rufai is required to provide a ₦200 million bond with two sureties. One surety must present a Certificate of Occupancy for landed property, while the second must be a respected elder in Kaduna State, to be verified by the Kaduna State Council of Elders.
The court also restricted El-Rufai and his legal team from granting media interviews pending the determination of the trial. He is further required to report to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on the first day of every month and surrender his international passport to the court.
Meanwhile, at the Kaduna State High Court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, a separate bail application was not determined as the court adjourned the matter to April 21, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The adjournment means the court is yet to rule on whether or not to grant bail in the separate proceedings before it.
El-Rufai was earlier arraigned by the ICPC on amended nine-count charges bordering on alleged advance fee fraud and money laundering, following the separation of his case from that of a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, who was reportedly absent due to medical reasons.
The ICPC subsequently proceeded with the amended charge, allowing El-Rufai to be arraigned independently.
Upon the reading of the charges under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, Advance Fee Fraud Act, Kaduna State Penal Code, and Public Procurement Law, the former governor pleaded not guilty.
There was a heavy security presence at the Federal High Court premises during the proceedings, with operatives stationed at strategic locations to maintain order.