BREAKING: Court Grants El-Rufai ₦200m Bail Over Alleged Corruption Charges

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is currently facing corruption-related charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Justice Rilwan Aikawa granted the former governor bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.

Contrary to some early reports circulating online, multiple credible reports confirmed that the bail was granted by the Federal High Court in Kaduna, not Abuja, and the approved bail sum was ₦200 million, not ₦100 million.

The court imposed stringent conditions for the bail. One of the sureties is required to possess landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy, while the second surety must be a respected elder within Kaduna State, subject to verification by relevant authorities. The court also directed El-Rufai to surrender his international passport and refrain from interfering with witnesses involved in the trial.

Despite the ruling, the former governor is expected to remain in ICPC custody until all bail conditions are fully met.

El-Rufai is facing multiple allegations bordering on fraud, abuse of office, money laundering, and alleged diversion of public funds during his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023. Among the allegations before the court are claims that about ₦11 billion belonging to Kaduna State was released for a proposed light rail project that was allegedly never executed. Prosecutors also accused him of approving and receiving severance benefits far above the legally approved entitlement for a former governor.

The former governor has denied all allegations brought against him.

The matter has been adjourned for continuation of trial as legal proceedings continue in both the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court.