El-Rufai's bail conditions are ridiculous - Emir Sanusi speaks out

Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has come out to say that the bail conditions given to former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai are extremely difficult. According to Sanusi, the authorities are demanding that an emir and a senior government official must stand as sureties before el-Rufai can be released from ICPC custody. This is a very high bar, and Sanusi himself said it is incredibly difficult for anyone to meet.

El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 19 over alleged fraud during his time as governor from 2015 to 2023. They arraigned him on April 13 at the Kaduna High Court on a nine-count charge bordering on fraud and abuse of office. Meanwhile, his support group, the el-Rufai Support Group Association, has hired a US-based advocacy firm called Vanguard Africa to mount an international campaign about his trial. They want to engage policymakers and democracy advocates in Washington DC.

Sanusi also used the opportunity to talk about the decline of the north. He said poverty has always been there but northerners used to have dignity and faith. Now, he says the region is losing its culture and political influence. He said, previously a northerner was widely accepted to lead the nation but today that is no longer the case. So the question is, is this bail condition a targeted attack on el-Rufai or is it standard procedure for someone facing these serious charges?