The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, May 18, 2026, granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of 100 million naira with one surety in like sum.
Ruling on the bail application, the court presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, imposed a series of stringent conditions El-Rufai must meet to perfect his bail.
Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of his landed property at the court registry.
The court also ordered that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 who must provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months, authenticated by a letter from the manager of the bank within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court further ordered the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, enter into a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik also directed that as part of the bail conditions, El-Rufai must deposit all valid international passports with the court.
The court also directed that a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department be submitted, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
The trial judge also ordered El-Rufai to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the determination of the case and warned that failure to comply would lead to the revocation of the bail.
Justice Abdulmalik also ordered El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Council.
Beyond the bail ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the trial proceed on an accelerated basis, signalling the court’s intention to ensure the matter is heard and determined without unnecessary delay.
