By Oluwakemi Kindness
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted bail by a Federal High Court in Kaduna amid ongoing legal battles over allegations of financial misconduct.
Justice Rilwan Aikawa, presiding over the Federal High Court, approved the bail application on Tuesday in Kaduna in a case instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which is prosecuting the former governor on multiple counts, including fraud, abuse of office, and financial mismanagement.
However, proceedings at the Kaduna State High Court, under Justice Darius Khobo, took a different turn as the court adjourned ruling on a separate bail application to April 21, 2026, following the introduction of amended charges.
El-Rufai was arraigned a day earlier, on April 13, 2026, by operatives of the ICPC alongside the Department of State Services (DSS), where he faced a revised nine-count charge after a review of the initial filing.
According to court documents, the prosecution alleged that El-Rufai authorised the release of about ₦11 billion in Kaduna State funds to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.
He is also accused of approving and receiving ₦289.8 million as severance allowance—far above the legally approved entitlement—thereby conferring undue financial benefit on himself.
In another count, prosecutors claimed the former governor mismanaged over $1.08 million from a World Bank loan facility, allegedly violating the terms governing the funds.
El-Rufai has denied all allegations.
During Monday’s proceedings, his counsel, Barrister Ubong Akpan, raised objections over the late service of the amended charges, stating they were only made available in court. The development prompted the judge to adjourn the matter to allow the defence sufficient time to review the new filings.
