A Federal High Court in Kaduna has granted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai bail under tight conditions, as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) presses ahead with a corruption case against him.
The ICPC confirmed the development in an official statement, outlining the court’s extensive requirements for the ex-governor’s release.
El-Rufai was admitted to bail in the sum of ₦200 million, backed by two sureties of equal financial standing. The court imposed several stringent conditions: one surety must be a Kaduna State resident holding a property valued at ₦200 million with a verified Certificate of Occupancy, while the second must be a respected elder certified by a recognized elders’ council.
Beyond the financial requirements, the court ordered El-Rufai to surrender his international passport to the court registrar, report to the ICPC headquarters on the first Monday of every month, and remain at a fixed residence. Should he wish to change his address, he must notify the court at least 72 hours in advance and obtain prior approval. He is also barred from interfering with prosecution witnesses, and will remain in ICPC custody until all bail conditions are fully met.
The charges stem from what the ICPC described as a “protracted investigation” into El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as governor, spanning 2015 to 2023. He faces a 10-count charge alongside co-defendant Joel Adoga.
Among the key allegations, the ICPC claims El-Rufai illegally received ₦289,826,998.12 as severance allowance — far exceeding the approved figure of approximately ₦20 million. He is also accused of receiving $797,900 into a domiciliary account from sources allegedly linked to unlawful activities, and of conspiring to conceal the origin of $10,000 in 2019.
Both El-Rufai and Adoga have entered pleas of not guilty to all charges.
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