Court Grants Nasir El-Rufai ₦100 Million Bail Amid Ongoing Corruption Trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai ₦100 million bail under strict conditions as his corruption trial continues.

By Folarin Aluko

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai in the sum of ₦100 million as legal proceedings continue in his ongoing corruption-related case.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on Monday, outlining a series of strict conditions that El-Rufai must satisfy before the bail can be perfected.

According to the court, the former governor must provide one surety in like sum, with the surety required to reside in either the Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja.

The judge further ruled that the surety must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry as part of the bail requirements.

In addition, the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months.

The court also directed that the salary evidence be authenticated through a letter issued by a bank manager operating within the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered the surety to submit an affidavit of means, enter into a formal bail bond, and provide a recent passport photograph to the court registry.

As part of the conditions, El-Rufai was instructed to surrender all valid international passports to the court pending the determination of the case.

The court further required the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s department, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.

In another major condition attached to the bail, the former Kaduna governor was directed to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register while the case remains before the court.

Justice Abdulmalik warned that any failure to comply with the conditions would result in an automatic revocation of the bail.

The court additionally instructed El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.

The ruling comes amid heightened national attention surrounding the former governor’s detention and prosecution, which has generated political debate and reactions from several opposition figures and political allies ahead of the 2027 elections.

El-Rufai is currently facing charges linked to alleged corruption and money laundering during his time as governor of Kaduna State. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The case has continued to draw widespread public and political interest due to El-Rufai’s influence within northern politics and his evolving role in Nigeria’s changing political landscape.

Political analysts believe the court’s decision to grant bail under strict conditions reflects the high-profile nature of the case and the intense scrutiny surrounding the proceedings.

The development also comes shortly after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar publicly called for El-Rufai’s release ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, describing his continued detention as unjust and politically sensitive.

As the legal battle continues, observers say the outcome of the case could have wider political implications, especially as political realignments and early positioning for the 2027 elections continue to intensify across the country.