El-Rufai Gets ₦200m Bail, Barred From Media Interviews

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦200 million by the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, even as a separate bail application before the Kaduna State High Court was adjourned till April 21, 2026.

The rulings followed proceedings in two different courts on Tuesday, both handling matters relating to the former governor.

At the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, El-Rufai was admitted to bail with stringent conditions, including the provision of two sureties. One of the sureties must present a Certificate of Occupancy for a landed property, while the other is required to be a respected elder in Kaduna State, to be verified by the Kaduna State Council of Elders.

As part of the bail conditions, the court barred El-Rufai and his legal team from granting media interviews pending the determination of the case. He was also ordered to deposit his international passport with the court and report monthly to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Meanwhile, at the Kaduna State High Court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, hearing on the bail application was adjourned to April 21, 2026, after proceedings could not be concluded.

El-Rufai had earlier appeared before the State High Court at about 9:00 a.m. for the hearing.

The ICPC had on Monday arraigned the former governor before the State High Court on a nine-count amended charge bordering on alleged advance fee fraud and money laundering.

Prosecution counsel, Dr. Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha, told the court that the amended charges separated the case earlier filed jointly against El-Rufai and a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, who was absent due to reported health challenges.

The court subsequently granted the prosecution’s application, allowing the trial of El-Rufai to proceed independently.

Upon arraignment, El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all the charges, which are said to contravene provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000; Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006; Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017; and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law, 2017.

Security was tight around the Federal High Court premises during Tuesday’s proceedings, with operatives deployed at strategic points to maintain order.