A Federal Excessive Court docket sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who’s standing trial on allegations of corruption.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC) on a 10-count cost bordering on alleged corrupt practices.
Ruling on the bail software, the trial choose, Rilwan M. Aikawa, held that the offences for which the defendant is being prosecuted are bailable.
The courtroom, nevertheless, ordered that the previous governor be remanded within the custody of the ICPC pending the fulfilment of his bail circumstances.
Journalists had been denied entry to the courtroom throughout the proceedings, whereas counsel to the defendant declined feedback.
Talking with journalists after the session, Bello El-Rufai, son of the previous governor and a member of the Home of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, disclosed that the bail circumstances embody a N200 million bond with two sureties in like sum.
In line with him, the sureties should embody a recognised conventional ruler and a federal civil servant not under Grade Stage 15.
He additional acknowledged that the circumstances require the submission of landed property paperwork, the deposit of worldwide passports with the courtroom, and a restriction stopping the previous governor from making public feedback associated to the case, in addition to an endeavor to attend all courtroom proceedings.
“The circumstances are many, near 10 or extra, however we hope to fulfil them,” Bello stated.
In the meantime, ruling in El-Rufai’s bail software in a separate go well with involving him on the Kaduna State Excessive Court docket was adjourned to April 21, 2026.
The adjournment adopted the absence of the trial choose, Darius Khobo, who was stated to be bereaved.
Within the 9-count cost earlier than the state courtroom, the previous governor can also be going through allegations of abuse of workplace and corruption.
John Shiklam
Times Nigeria