By our reporter 14.4.2026
Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai was granted bail on by a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday in his ongoing trial on charges of corruption.
El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
Presiding judge Justice Darius Khobo set El-Rufai’s bail at ₦200 million, with two sureties condition The sureties must provide a Certificate of Occupancy for landed property, while the other is to be a recognised elder in Kaduna State, subject to verification by the Kaduna State Council of Elders.
Above all the court put a gag order forbidding El-Rufai and his legal team from granting media interviews until the conclusion of the trial.
He was also ordered to report to the ICPC on the first day of every month and to deposit his international passport with the court.
Journalists were also barred from accessing the courtroom.
Justice Khobo subsequently adjourned the matter to April 14, 2026.
The charges against El-Rufai stem from his tenure as governor and include allegations of inducing the Kaduna State Government to release about N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was not executed.
The ICPC also alleged that he approved and received about N289.8 million as severance allowance above the legally permitted amount.
Other allegations include the alleged mismanagement of over $1.08 million from a World Bank loan, unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract in Kaduna metropolis in breach of procurement laws, and conspiracy to bribe federal investigators.
El-Rufai has denied all allegations.
He is also facing a separate 10-count charge before the Federal High Court, where he was earlier arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on allegations bordering on money laundering, as well as conversion and possession of public property.