Court Rejects El-Rufai Third Bail Request

The Kaduna State High Court has refused a fresh bail application filed by former governor Nasir El-Rufai in a corruption case brought by the ICPC.

The Kaduna State High Court has dismissed another bail application submitted by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a criminal case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Justice D. H. Khobo, in a ruling delivered on 29 June 2026, rejected the third bail request, which was based on medical reasons.

A key issue before the court was a medical document presented by Nasir El-Rufai in support of his application. The report, labelled Exhibit “A”, was said to have been issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, and claimed that the former governor was suffering from advanced metastatic prostate cancer requiring specialised treatment not available in Nigeria.

However, during proceedings, the National Hospital denied issuing the document. It also told the court that there was no record showing that Nasir El-Rufai had ever received treatment at the facility. The hospital further stated that the report was produced without its approval or knowledge.

The court found that the authenticity of the document had been seriously questioned. It held that a report disowned by the institution whose letterhead it carried could not be relied upon to support a request for bail on health grounds.

With the medical evidence dismissed as unreliable, Justice Khobo ruled that there were no proven facts to justify granting bail. He therefore refused the application.

However, the court ordered that the ICPC must continue to allow Nasir El-Rufai access to his personal doctors and ensure he is escorted to any approved medical facility within Nigeria when necessary during the ongoing trial.

The ICPC said it would comply with the order and added that the ruling reinforces the need for credible evidence in medical bail applications and strict adherence to legal standards in court proceedings.

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