Former Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai, may remain in custody for an extended period despite being granted bail, following the emergence of multiple criminal cases against him in different courts.
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of ₦200 million over allegations brought against him by the (ICPC). However, the court ruled that he should remain in custody pending the fulfilment of stringent bail conditions.
Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, who delivered the ruling, also barred the former governor from making public comments on the case and mandated his attendance at all court proceedings. Among the conditions attached to the bail are the provision of a surety with landed property and a recognised traditional title.
Despite the bail approval, legal experts say El-Rufai’s immediate release is unlikely due to a separate case pending before the Kaduna State High Court. In that matter, the presiding judge has yet to rule on his bail application, effectively keeping him in custody until both courts grant bail and all conditions are met.
A Kaduna-based lawyer explained that the existence of parallel trials complicates the situation. According to him, even if the former governor perfects his bail at the Federal High Court, he cannot regain freedom until similar relief is granted in the second case.
The ICPC had earlier arraigned El-Rufai on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, abuse of office, and mismanagement of public funds during his tenure. The charges include claims that he authorised the release of about ₦11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that he unlawfully received approximately ₦289.8 million as severance allowance—far exceeding the legally approved amount—while also mismanaging over $1.08 million from a World Bank loan.
Additional allegations include the irregular award of a ₦4.6 billion CCTV contract in Kaduna, land allocation abuses, and attempts to influence investigators through inducements. El-Rufai has denied all allegations.
Reacting to the court’s decision, his son, , welcomed the bail ruling but urged the public and media to respect the judicial process and avoid speculation. He expressed confidence in the rule of law and maintained that the legal team would address all substantive issues in court.
El-Rufai has remained in custody since February 19, following his initial detention, with only a brief compassionate release in March to attend his mother’s burial.
With legal proceedings ongoing across multiple courts, analysts suggest the former governor’s political future, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections, may largely depend on how quickly he meets bail conditions and the outcome of the trials.
