Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kaduna State High Court has dismissed the bail application filed by former Governor Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai, ordering that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as his trial on abuse‑of‑office charges continues. Justice Dirisu Khobo delivered the ruling on Monday, June 29, 2026, holding that the application “lacked merit” and that the defence had failed to present credible evidence or convincing documents that would justify granting bail pending the conclusion of the case.
El‑Rufai is standing trial on a nine‑count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage, among other offences. He was first arraigned on March 18, 2026, alongside the Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, Amadu Sule, in suit number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26. The ICPC initially filed a ten‑count charge against both defendants but later amended the charge after Sule was withdrawn from the case, leaving El‑Rufai as the sole defendant facing the reduced nine‑count charge.
Justice Khobo ruled that the application did not establish any “exceptional circumstances” that would warrant the court’s discretion to release the former governor while the trial is ongoing. The judge further noted that the defence had not provided sufficient material to justify bail, and the proceedings were conducted in the absence of El‑Rufai, who remained in ICPC custody.
Despite denying bail, the court directed the ICPC to allow El‑Rufai unhindered access to his medical team or any medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever he requires medical attention during his detention. The judge also ordered that El‑Rufai remain in the custody of the anti‑graft agency pending the determination of the case.
Justice Khobo adjourned the matter to July 7 and July 8, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing. The case has attracted significant public interest, given El‑Rufai’s prominence in Nigeria’s political landscape and his role as one of the country’s most influential former governors. His legal team has consistently maintained that the charges are politically motivated, while the ICPC insists it has assembled sufficient documentary and witness evidence to secure a conviction.
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