El-Rufai Remains in ICPC Custody as Court Defers Bail Ruling to June

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai will remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission until at least early June, after a state high court postponed its ruling on his bail application.

Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court made the decision Tuesday following arguments from both the prosecution and defence teams. The adjournment means El-Rufai stays behind bars as the court takes more time to consider whether to grant him bail.

The former governor is facing a nine-count charge alleging fraud, abuse of office and corruption. The ICPC amended the charge sheet earlier, leaving El-Rufai as the sole defendant in the case before the state high court.

Defence Calls Ruling Unjustified

El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, criticized the court’s decision to keep his client in custody. He argued that denying bail based on El-Rufai’s status as a former governor was unfair.

“The court, in its wisdom, decided that because Nasir El-Rufai is a former governor, he is going to interfere with the investigation. Therefore, he is not entitled to bail in an allegation of financial impropriety. We respectfully disagree,” Akpan said.

The defence team plans to challenge the ruling through proper legal channels. Akpan urged supporters to stay calm, saying setbacks are normal in legal battles.

“In a conflict, you have gains and setbacks. Sometimes things work against you, but you must not be frightened. Sit up. We are going to take this battle on and we are going to win,” he told journalists.

Parallel Bail Proceedings

The situation around El-Rufai’s detention has become complicated by parallel court proceedings. A Federal High Court had earlier granted conditional bail worth ₦200 million on April 14, but those conditions have not yet been met.

Meanwhile, the State High Court case continues separately. The court had initially scheduled April 21 to deliver its ruling on bail before pushing the date to June.

El-Rufai has claimed there are political forces working to keep him detained. He pointed to what he described as a “fresh plot” to implicate him in criminal activities and block his release.

The case reflects ongoing tensions between different arms of Nigeria’s justice system and raises questions about how bail applications are handled for high-profile defendants.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post, Daily Trust, ICPC