The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed concern over the bail conditions imposed on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, describing the requirements as unusually difficult to meet.
El-Rufai has remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since February following allegations of financial misconduct linked to his time as governor between 2015 and 2023.
The former governor was later arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court on a revised nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking with journalists after a public event, Sanusi said the conditions attached to el-Rufai’s release were excessively stringent and could delay his ability to secure bail.
“Take the case of my brother, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. He remains in custody, and the conditions set for his release are extremely difficult to fulfil,” the emir said.
According to Sanusi, authorities reportedly requested that both a traditional ruler and a senior government official stand as sureties before the former governor could be granted bail.
“They stated that an emir and a senior government worker must sign his bail,” he added.
Beyond the issue of el-Rufai’s trial, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria lamented what he described as the gradual decline of Northern Nigeria’s cultural values and political influence.
Sanusi argued that although poverty has historically affected the region, northerners had traditionally preserved their dignity, patience and religious values despite economic challenges.
“What is troubling the North is not only poverty. We are witnessing an erosion of our culture, a test of our patience and a growing tendency to imitate other cultures,” he said.
The monarch also expressed concern over what he sees as a reduction in the region’s political standing within the country.
“There was a time when a northerner could easily gain acceptance to lead the nation. Today, that level of acceptance is no longer guaranteed,” he stated.
Meanwhile, supporters of the former Kaduna governor have intensified efforts to draw international attention to the case. The el-Rufai Support Group Association recently announced that it had retained a United States-based advocacy organisation, Vanguard Africa, to coordinate a global awareness campaign regarding his prosecution.
The trial is expected to continue as legal proceedings against the former governor progress in court.
