Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Kaduna, with the court setting conditions for his release as he faces an amended nine-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission . El-Rufai, who was escorted out by security operatives after the court ruling, will be released as soon as he meets the bail conditions, which were not immediately disclosed to the press . The former governor arrived at the court amid tight security, with armed operatives stationed at strategic points to maintain order as journalists and members of the public were kept at a distance . Earlier, El-Rufai had appeared before the Kaduna State High Court, but proceedings did not progress as expected, with the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, adjourning the bail ruling to April 21 due to a bereavement that prevented him from preparing the ruling .
The ICPC amended the charges, dropping one of the earlier defendants and leaving El-Rufai as the sole defendant, with counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Abang, disclosing that “the charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court” . Speaking to journalists after proceedings at the State High Court, El-Rufai’s counsel Ubong Akpan said the matter was adjourned because the trial judge “was bereaved and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen. The ruling has been adjourned to Tuesday next week, April 21, 2026, on the motion for bail” . Akpan added: “So, fingers crossed, gentlemen. We are heading to the federal court, which is stage two of the theatre of operations, as the ICPC has decided to charge us in phases.” The former governor is currently at the Federal High Court for the continuation of proceedings on his bail ruling application .
The development comes amid a series of legal battles for El-Rufai, who has been facing multiple charges from various agencies. Akpan quipped: “We are expecting other ones from the Customary Court, the Native Court, and then maybe charges by Plant Quarantine. Since everybody is looking for El-Rufai’s hype” . The ICPC had earlier filed charges against the former governor over allegations of fraud, abuse of office and corruption during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023. El-Rufai has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the charges as politically motivated. The case has been closely watched as it involves one of the most prominent opposition figures in northern Nigeria.
