El-Rufai: Atiku protests continued detention, bail ruling 1 July 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday criticised the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, warning that excessively stringent bail conditions could weaken constitutional protections and reduce public confidence in the justice system.

Mr Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the refusal to review El-Rufai’s bail conditions as troubling.

Mr Shaibu quoted Mr Atiku as saying that conditions that are practically impossible to fulfil amount to a “constructive denial of bail.”

“The law is settled that an accused person remains innocent until proven guilty. Bail exists to preserve that constitutional protection. It was never designed to become a sophisticated instrument for punishment before conviction,” he stated.

The criticism comes as the Federal High Court in Kaduna fixed 1 July 2026, to rule on the bail applications filed by El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Jimi Lawal, in an alleged corruption case instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

The court adjourned after hearing submissions from both prosecution and defence counsel on the bail requests.

El-Rufai, who appeared before two separate courts in Kaduna on Wednesday, is facing charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, financial impropriety and money laundering.

Mr Atiku questioned the rationale behind bail requirements that allegedly compel a defendant to produce a serving Grade Level 17 federal civil servant with verifiable property in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts alongside other conditions.

“Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple question: is the objective to grant bail or to ensure that bail remains unattainable?” he asked.

Court proceedings

At the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari, El-Rufai, Lawal, a former Special Adviser during the El-Rufai administration, and several corporate entities were arraigned on an amended 11-count charge.

El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to count one, while Lawal pleaded not guilty to counts six, seven and eight.

A corporate entity, Singularity Network Security Limited, was arraigned on counts two, three, four, five, nine, ten and eleven.

In total, El-Rufai, Lawal and five corporate entities are standing trial in the matter.

Justice Buhari adjourned the case until July 1 for ruling on the bail applications.

Earlier in the day, El-Rufai appeared before the Kaduna State High Court for continuation of hearing in another ICPC matter before Justice Darius Khobo involving allegations of abuse of office and money laundering linked to his tenure between 2015 and 2023.

Justice Khobo subsequently adjourned the matter until June 29 for further hearing.

Rule of law concerns

Mr Atiku argued that the implications of such decisions extend beyond one individual and could shape broader public perception of access to justice.

“This is not merely about one individual. It is about the principles that underpin a democratic society governed by the rule of law.

“Today it is El-Rufai. Tomorrow it could be any citizen whose liberty depends not on the law but on whether he can satisfy conditions that few Nigerians can ever meet,” he said.

He added that constitutional safeguards including liberty, presumption of innocence and fair hearing should remain protected regardless of political differences.

“The question of guilt or innocence is entirely for the courts to determine. What concerns every patriot is whether constitutional safeguards are being faithfully upheld,” he stated.

Mr Atiku also expressed concern over what he described as a growing public perception that opposition figures and government critics were increasingly becoming entangled in legal and administrative disputes.

He maintained that bail conditions should ensure attendance in court and not become a mechanism for prolonged detention.