“The ruling has been adjourned to Tuesday next week. The ruling on the motion for bail. So, fingers crossed,” stated Ubong Akpan, El-Rufai’s attorney, following a recent court session.
Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, was arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on or about February 18, 2026. He is currently facing a 10-count charge related to corruption and money laundering.
The charges against El-Rufai include allegations of receiving ₦289,826,998.12 as severance allowance, which exceeds his lawful entitlement by a significant margin. Additionally, he is accused of accepting $797,900 from individuals, knowing it was derived from unlawful activities.
On April 14, 2026, the Federal High Court granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of ₦200 million, contingent upon the provision of two sureties. One of the sureties must be a resident of Kaduna State and possess property worth ₦200 million, along with a verified Certificate of Occupancy.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa emphasized that the defendant must remain in ICPC custody until all bail conditions are fully met. El-Rufai is also required to deposit his international passport and report to the ICPC headquarters every first Monday of the month.
El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the ICPC has reiterated its commitment to due process and the rule of law in the prosecution of this case. The trial involves multiple charges across different courts, with the prosecution recently amending the charges and dropping another defendant from the case.
Ubong Akpan noted, “His Lordship was bereaved and he was unable to put the ruling together. So, we understand these things happen,” referring to the adjournment of the bail ruling.
The ICPC has stated, “The ICPC will continue to keep the public informed of significant developments as proceedings progress in both courts.” The ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application at the Kaduna State High Court is now scheduled for April 21, 2026.
The cases stem from a protracted investigation by the ICPC into El-Rufai’s tenure as Governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.