El-Rufa’i’s ex-aide to remain in detention as court refuses bail application over alleged fraud

A Kaduna State High Court has once again refused to grant bail to Alhaji Bashir Sa’idu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, following his arraignment on a 10-count charge of alleged money laundering, embezzlement, and theft.

During the hearing on Tuesday before Justice Isa Aliyu, the defendant pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him. The court ordered his continued detention at the Correctional Facility.

The charges allege that, as Commissioner of Finance in 2022, Sa’idu sold $45 million belonging to the Kaduna State Government—equivalent of ₦18.45 billion at the rate of ₦410 per dollar, instead of the parallel market rate of ₦498. This undervaluation allegedly caused a loss of ₦3.96 billion to the government, which the prosecution claims was laundered in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Defence counsel M.I. Abubakar applied for bail, citing Sa’idu’s 21-day detention since his arrest on January 2, 2025. He argued that bail would enable the defendant to prepare an adequate defence against the charges.

Prosecution counsel, Professor Nasiru Aliyu, opposed the application, noting that the law grants them seven days to respond to the request.

After a 40-minute recess, Justice Aliyu ruled that the prosecutor must be given the legally required time to respond to the bail application. The case was adjourned to January 23, 2025, for the bail hearing.

El-Rufa’i’s ex-aide to remain in detention as court refuses bail application over alleged fraud