El-Rufai to Remain in Custody as Court Fixes June 1 for Pre-Trial Motions

KADUNA – Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, will remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna adjourned his corruption trial to June 1, 2026.

​Presiding Justice Rilwanu Aikawa fixed the date on Thursday to hear two critical pre-trial motions filed by the defense. The adjournment came after El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Mustapha Abubakar (SAN), indicated that the defense was not yet prepared to move the applications, which reportedly seek to strike out several documents attached to the ICPC’s charges.

​Bail Variations and Medical Access

​In a significant ruling on Thursday, the court addressed El-Rufai’s request to vary the stringent bail conditions imposed on April 14. Justice Aikawa denied a defense plea to allow the first surety to provide a N200 million bank guarantee instead of the required cash deposit.

​However, the judge offered a minor concession, allowing the second surety to be verified by a District Head rather than the Kaduna State Council of Elders. The core bail terms remain at N200 million with two high-ranking sureties, both of whom must surrender their international passports.

​Earlier on Wednesday, the court also granted El-Rufai a compassionate window for medical care. Under strict ICPC supervision, the former governor is permitted to visit Mile Dental Clinic and Skipper Eye-Q Hospital in Abuja for eye and dental treatment, provided he is returned to custody immediately after each session.

​Billions in Question

​The anti-graft agency has docked El-Rufai on a 10-count charge involving alleged money laundering, fraud, and abuse of office. Central to the prosecution’s case is the claim that El-Rufai authorized the release of billions of naira for state projects that allegedly remained unexecuted.

​Further details from the charge sheet (marked FHC/KD/73/2026) allege that El-Rufai unlawfully received over N579 million in severance allowances—dramatically exceeding the legally mandated amount—and maintained control over various sums in U.S. Dollars through domiciliary accounts.

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​A Political Flashpoint

​The trial continues to grip the public imagination, fueled by El-Rufai’s transition from a powerhouse in the ruling APC to a vocal critic of his successor, Governor Uba Sani. His recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and subsequent legal woes have led supporters to claim the trial is politically motivated—a charge the ICPC has firmly denied, maintaining that the prosecution is based on strictly documented financial misconduct.

​As it stands, El-Rufai remains under a court-ordered “gag order,” restrained from making any public comments on the case until its determination.