El-Rufai: “Bail Conditions Should Secure Attendance In Court, Not Guarantee Continued Incarceration” – Atiku Warns

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed serious concern over the politicization of the trial and detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, by the authorities.

Abubakar, who is the 2027 Presidential Candidate of  the African Democratic Congress, ADC, described the continued detention of El-Rufai  as well as the refusal of the Court to review the bail conditions granted to him as totally unacceptable.

El-Rufai who is facing multiple inter-agency prosecutions over charges bordering on alleged diversion of public funds , inflation of Severance packages ,and breach of national security, has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC since February 18, 2026, when he was granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The former Governor of Kaduna State, however, despite being granted bail by multiple courts where he is currently being prosecuted by the ICPC and the Department of State Service, DSS, between April and May, has remained in custody owing to  the tough conditions attached to the bail granted him by an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Honourable Justice Joyce Abdul-Malik.

At the resumed hearing of the case filed by the DSS against El-Rufai over alleged wire-tapping of the telephone number of the National Security Adviser NSA on Tuesday, Justice Abdul-Malik rejected pleas for the variation of the bail conditions granted the former Kaduna State Governor.

El-Rufai’s defence team led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, had, in an oral application urged the court to review certain conditions of the bail, particularly  those requiring a Level 17 Civil Servant with properties in Maitama or Asokoro Districts of Abuja as one of the sureties, as well as an attestation letter from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Rulers Council .

According to him, the conditions appear practically untenable ,and impossible in the present circumstances.

The former Vice President, while reacting on Wednesday , June 24, 2026, described the stance of the court as deeply troubling ,and a source of serious concern about the State of constitutional liberties,the administration of justice, and the growing tendency to weaponise legal processes against political rivals.

According to Atiku, while it is true that courts reserve the discretions to grant bail  and impose  conditions ,he insisted that the exercise of such power must be done judicially ,and judiciously.

He emphasized that attaching stringent conditions, which are obviously, and manifestly high-handed, unreasonable, and or practically impossible to fulfill, remains counterproductive ,and certainly defeat the very essence of the bail granted.