Bail denied: El-Rufai stays in ICPC custody as court cites lack of merit

A Kaduna State High Court has denied former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s bail application in his ICPC corruption trial, ruling he failed to present sufficient evidence or exceptional circumstances, while ordering he remain in custody but be granted unhindered access to medical care.

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai will be spending more time in custody — the court has spoken, and the answer is no.

Justice Diruis Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court yesterday threw out El-Rufai’s bail application, ruling that the former governor’s legal team simply hadn’t done enough to convince the bench.

According to the court ruling, El-Rufai is facing a nine-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. Notably, El-Rufai wasn’t even physically present in court when the bail ruling came down.

Justice Khobo didn’t mince words on why the application failed.

The judge held that the applicant failed to present reliable evidence and convincing documents to justify the grant of bail, and further found that the application did not disclose exceptional circumstances that would persuade the court to admit the defendant to bail pending determination of the case.

It wasn’t a total loss for the former governor, though. The court ordered the ICPC to grant El-Rufai unhindered access to his medical team or any medical facility of his choice within the country while he remains in custody — a small concession amid an otherwise tough ruling.

Justice Khobo confirmed El-Rufai will remain in ICPC custody and adjourned the case to July 7 and 8 for continued hearing.

The case itself has already seen significant restructuring. According to The Nation,El-Rufai was originally arraigned on March 18 alongside Amadu Sule, Managing Director of TMDK Terminal Limited, facing a 10-count charge accusing both men of abuse of office and fraud-related offences. But after Sule withdrew from proceedings, the ICPC amended the charge sheet, dropping him entirely and leaving El-Rufai as the sole defendant now facing the reduced nine-count charge.

For a former governor once seen as one of Nigeria’s most powerful political figures, this ruling marks another significant setback in a legal battle showing no signs of slowing down.