Kaduna Court Denies Bail To Ex-El-Rufai Aide Over Alleged ₦3.96 Billion Fraud

A Kaduna State High Court has rejected the bail application of Alhaji Bashir Sa’idu, a former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai, amid allegations of financial misconduct amounting to ₦3.96 billion.

Sa’idu, who also served as Kaduna State’s Commissioner of Finance, is facing a 10-count charge, including money laundering, embezzlement, and theft during his tenure.

The prosecution alleges that Sa’idu undervalued and sold $45 million of state-owned foreign currency at ₦410 per dollar instead of the parallel market rate of ₦498 per dollar. This undervaluation reportedly caused the Kaduna State Government a loss of ₦3.96 billion.

Sa’idu, who has been in custody since his arrest on January 2, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charges. He sought bail, arguing that he had already spent 21 days in detention.

However, Justice Isa Aliyu adjourned the bail hearing to January 23, 2025, granting the prosecution more time to prepare a response to the application. Sa’idu was subsequently remanded in a Correctional Facility.

The charges brought against him contravene Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The case has attracted significant public attention due to its implications for accountability and governance in Kaduna State. As the legal battle unfolds, it underscores the ongoing efforts to address financial improprieties in public office.