by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, will remain on bail granted by the Federal High Court, even as the Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday adjourned ruling on a separate bail application to June.
The Federal High Court in Kaduna, presided over by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, had two weeks ago granted the former governor bail in the sum of N200 million, following his arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on amended charges.
The bail conditions required him to provide a N200 million bond with two sureties, including a property owner with a valid Certificate of Occupancy and a recognized elder in Kaduna State, to be verified by the Kaduna State Council of Elders.
He is also barred from granting media interviews, mandated to report monthly to the ICPC, and ordered to surrender his international passport, amongst other conditions.
However, the proceedings before the Kaduna State High Court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, took a fresh turn on Tuesday, as the court adjourned ruling on his bail application to June.
The adjournment underscores that, while El-Rufai is not in custody due to the Federal High Court’s decision, his legal battle remains ongoing, with the possibility of a different outcome in the state case still pending.
El-Rufai is facing an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged advance fee fraud and money laundering. The charges followed the separation of his case from that of a co-defendant, allowing the prosecution to proceed with his arraignment independently.
He has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Meanwhile, security presence remained tight around the court premises, reflecting the high-profile nature of the proceedings.
The development means that, even although El-Rufai is currently enjoying bail, the relief applies only to the charges before the Federal High Court, leaving his fate in the parallel state proceedings unresolved.