The Federal High Court has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has been in detention over corruption allegations brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Although details of the bail conditions were not immediately made public as of press time, the decision marks a significant turn in the high-profile legal battle involving the former governor.
El-Rufai’s bail comes barely hours after he appeared before the Kaduna State High Court under tight security for the continuation of proceedings on his bail application in a separate but related corruption case filed by the ICPC.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the former governor arrived at the court premises amid heightened security presence, reflecting the intense public and political interest surrounding the case.
During earlier proceedings, journalists were barred from accessing the courtroom, a move that further fuelled speculation about the nature and direction of the trial.
Court insiders had disclosed that the case experienced delays after the prosecution introduced an amended nine-count charge against El-Rufai, significantly restructuring the allegations against him.
Initially filed against El-Rufai and one Amadu Sule, the amended charge dropped Sule as a co-defendant, leaving the former governor as the sole accused.
Confirming the development at the time, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ubong Akpan (SAN), told journalists that the defence team was taken by surprise after the amended charges were served in court without prior notice.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed,” Akpan had said.
Justice Darius Khobo subsequently adjourned the matter to April 14, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application, which has now resulted in the Federal High Court granting El-Rufai bail.
The charges against the former governor are wide-ranging and stem from his tenure in office. Among the allegations is that he induced the Kaduna State Government to release about N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.
The ICPC also accused him of approving and receiving about N289.8 million as severance allowance—far above the legally permitted amount—thereby conferring a corrupt advantage on himself.
Further allegations include the mismanagement of over $1.08 million from a World Bank loan, unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract in Kaduna metropolis in breach of procurement laws, and conspiracy with an associate to bribe federal investigators.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations.
The former governor is also facing a separate 10-count charge before the Federal High Court, where he was earlier arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on allegations bordering on money laundering, as well as conversion and possession of public property.
SaharaReporters
