“Bail Conditions Incredibly Difficult” — Sanusi Says ICPC Custody Of El-Rufai Delayed As Support Group Engages US Advocacy Firm

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has alleged that stringent bail conditions imposed on former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, are delaying his release from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

Sanusi spoke to journalists after an event, where he claimed that the conditions set for El-Rufai’s release were difficult to meet.

According to the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, the authorities allegedly required an emir and a senior government official to stand as sureties before the former governor could be released.

“For example, look at what is happening with my brother, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. He is currently in custody, and the requirements for his release are incredibly difficult,” Sanusi said.

“They stated that an emir and a senior government worker must sign his bail,” he added.

El-Rufai has reportedly been in ICPC custody since February 19 over allegations of financial impropriety linked to his tenure as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023.

The anti-corruption agency subsequently arraigned him before a Kaduna High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.

Sanusi’s comments came as the El-Rufai Support Group Association announced the engagement of Vanguard Africa, a Washington DC-based advocacy organisation, to lead an international campaign over the former governor’s prosecution.

The group’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Mohammed Salihu, said ERSGA would work with the US-based firm to engage policymakers, democracy advocates and international stakeholders on developments surrounding the case.

Beyond El-Rufai’s legal troubles, Sanusi also raised concerns over what he described as the erosion of Northern Nigeria’s cultural values, social dignity and political influence.

He said poverty had long been a problem in the North, but insisted that the region’s deeper challenge was not only economic deprivation but also a gradual loss of cultural identity and patience.

“Regarding the North, we all know that poverty has been a long-standing issue here. Yet, despite their poverty, northern people value and respect themselves, leaving everything in the hands of Almighty God,” he said.

“What is troubling the North is not just a lack of money, but the erosion of our culture, the testing of our patience, and the continuous attempt to copy other cultures across this country,” Sanusi added.

The Emir also expressed concern that the political standing of the North within Nigeria had declined.

“Previously, a northerner was widely accepted to lead the entire nation, but today, northerners are no longer viewed differently from anyone else,” he said.

The developments have added a political and international dimension to El-Rufai’s prosecution, with his supporters insisting that the case deserves wider scrutiny, while Sanusi’s remarks have further drawn attention to the bail conditions and the broader debate over justice, politics and regional influence.