The court granted bail of N200 million to El-Rufai, and the ICPC ordered detention to continue pending compliance

The Federal High Court in Kaduna has admitted former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to bail amounting to N200 million on corruption charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

Even though it had issued a decision, the court ordered that El-Rufai remain in the custody of the anti-corruption agency until he fulfilled all the bail conditions set.

Judge Rilwanu Aikawa delivered the decision on Tuesday after previously postponing the ruling from April 1 to April 14 2026, to consider submissions from the prosecution and defense.

While granting the application, the judge described the bail conditions as “strict and extensive,” requiring two sureties who must each provide security of N200 million.

The court further ordered that the accused should remain in ICPC custody until all bail conditions are met.

Among the conditions, the guarantor is required to surrender his international passport to the court. Additionally, one of the guarantors must be a civil servant not below Class 15, while the other must be a recognized traditional ruler.

Judge Aikawa also prohibited El-Rufai from making public comments on the case and required his presence at all court proceedings.

The former governor’s adviser, Ubong Akpan, declined to speak to journalists after the hearing. However, El-Rufai’s son, Bello El-Rufai, confirmed that bail had been granted.

Likewise, the chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Hayatudeen Makarfi, also verified the development, stating that the collateral conditions include financial obligations, land ownership requirements, and conditions of traditional rulers being recognized as among the collateral.

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He stressed that those conditions must be met before the former governor can secure his release, adding that El-Rufai will remain in ICPC custody pending compliance.

Earlier the same day, proceedings at the Kaduna State High Court in a related case stalled as the court postponed its decision on El-Rufai’s bail application until April 21, 2026.

This delay follows the inability of the presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, to deliver the verdict on schedule.

The ICPC had arraigned El-Rufai on March 18, 2026 along with the Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, Amadu Sule, before the Kaduna State High Court based on Charge No. KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26.

The initial charges include allegations of abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and providing undue advantage. However, prosecutors later changed their charges, removing Sule from the case and narrowing the trial to El-Rufai alone.

Explaining the delay at the state court, Akpan said, “His Majesty is very grieved and he cannot take a decision. So, we understand this happened.”

He expressed hope ahead of the new date, and added, “So the decision is postponed until Tuesday next week. The decision on the bail motion. So, fingers crossed.”

Akpan also accused the ICPC of pursuing several legal actions against his clients simultaneously, and noted that legal proceedings were ongoing in state and federal courts.

Following a Kaduna State High Court hearing, El-Rufai was transferred to the Federal High Court, where he faced a separate 10-count indictment before Judge Aikawa, underscoring the growing number of legal challenges facing the former governor.