On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai following alleged corruption accusations brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The court, however, directed that El-Rufai remain in the custody of the anti-graft agency until his bail fulfilments are met.

The presiding judge, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, issued the ruling after adjourning the matter from April 1 to April 14, 2026, to evaluate the arguments presented by both the legal teams.

Justice Aikawa granted El-Rufai bail in the amount of N200 million with two sureties, describing the conditions as “strict and extensive".

The court decreed that the defendant must stay in ICPC detention until every bail requirement has been fully met.

As part of the conditions, the sureties must surrender their international passports to the court.

The judge further directed that one surety must be a civil servant with a minimum of grade level 15, and the second must be a recognised traditional ruler.

Furthermore, El-Rufai is prohibited from making public statements regarding the case and must attend all court sittings.

Ubong Akpan, the former governor’s lawyer, refused to provide a statement when approached by journalists immediately following the proceedings.

However, the former governor’s son, Bello El-Rufai, verified that bail had been granted to his father.

Also, Hayatudeen Makarfi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, confirmed the development, stating that the bail came with multiple conditions, including financial requirements, landed property, and the involvement of a recognised traditional ruler as surety.

He emphasised that the conditions must be met before the former governor can be released, adding that El-Rufai would remain in ICPC custody pending compliance.

Earlier that Tuesday, a related case at the Kaduna State High Court was delayed when the court adjourned ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application to April 21, 2026.

The postponement followed the inability of the presiding judge, Darius Khobo, to deliver the ruling as earlier scheduled.

On March 18, 2026, the ICPC charged El-Rufai alongside the Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, Amadu Sule, before the Kaduna State High Court under Charge No. KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26.

The original counts primarily involved allegations of office abuse, fraud, intent to defraud, and the granting of illicit benefits.

Meanwhile, the prosecution amended the charges on Monday, dropping Sule from the case and narrowing the trial solely to El-Rufai.

Speaking after the adjournment, Akpan attributed the issue to circumstances beyond the court’s control.

“His Lordship was bereaved, and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen,” he said.

He expressed optimism ahead of the rescheduled ruling, adding, “So the ruling has been adjourned to Tuesday next week. The ruling on the motion for bail. So, fingers crossed.”

Akpan, however, charged the ICPC of engaging in phased litigation against his client, noting that proceedings were now ongoing in both the state and federal courts.

Shortly after the Kaduna State High Court session, El-Rufai was moved to the Federal High Court, where he was arraigned on a separate 10-count charge before Justice Aikawa.

The development underscores the mounting legal battles facing the former governor across multiple courts.