The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has disclosed that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is grappling with what he described as “extremely difficult” bail conditions in his ongoing fraud trial.
El-Rufai has remained in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 19 over allegations of financial impropriety during his tenure between 2015 and 2023.
The anti-graft agency had, on April 13, arraigned the former governor before a Kaduna State High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
Speaking with journalists after a public engagement, Sanusi revealed that authorities imposed stringent conditions for El-Rufai’s bail, including the requirement that a serving emir and a senior government official must stand as sureties.
Citing the situation as troubling, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria said, “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.”
Meanwhile, the El-Rufai Support Group Association (ERSGA) has escalated efforts to internationalise the matter, announcing that it has engaged a United States-based advocacy group to mount a global campaign around the former governor’s trial.
According to Mohammed Salihu, the association’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, the group has retained Vanguard Africa to interface with policymakers, democracy advocates, and international stakeholders over concerns surrounding the prosecution.
Sanusi, however, went beyond the immediate legal battle to lament what he described as a steady erosion of the socio-cultural and political relevance of Northern Nigeria.
He noted that while poverty has long plagued the region, it had historically not diminished the people’s sense of dignity and resilience.
“Poverty has always been with us, but our people maintained self-respect and placed their trust in God. What we are witnessing now goes beyond lack of money—it is about cultural erosion and a loss of identity,” he said.
The emir further expressed concern that the North’s once-dominant influence in national politics has waned significantly.
“Previously, a northerner could be broadly accepted to lead the country, but that perception has changed. Today, northerners are no longer viewed with that same distinction,” he added.
The development comes amid heightened political tension surrounding El-Rufai’s trial, with supporters framing the prosecution as politically motivated, while anti-corruption authorities insist the case is strictly within the ambit of the law.
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