Human rights and anti-corruption activist, Comrade Ibrahim Garba Wala (IG Wala), has called for an immediate review of the bail conditions imposed on former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing them as excessive, unrealistic and difficult to meet.
Wala, who spoke in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, warned that the judiciary must avoid creating conditions that effectively deny citizens their constitutional right to bail.
The activist’s reaction followed recent comments by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), on what he described as the growing trend of using stringent bail conditions as a tool for prolonged detention.
According to Wala, the conditions attached to El-Rufai’s bail amount to an impossible hurdle and contradict the principle that bail should serve only to ensure a defendant’s appearance in court.
He argued that requirements such as multiple sureties who must be serving federal civil servants on Grade Level 17, as well as demands for original Certificates of Occupancy for high-value properties in areas like Maitama and Asokoro, place an unreasonable burden on the accused.
“The bail terms are so stringent that they create an almost impossible path to freedom. Bail should not become a punishment before conviction,” he said.
Wala maintained that the situation reflects a disturbing trend in which bail conditions are increasingly being used as instruments of pre-trial punishment rather than safeguards for justice.
He further alleged that keeping the former governor unable to meet the bail requirements could amount to judicial frustration and undermine the principle of presumption of innocence.
While commending the NBA president for speaking out on the issue, the activist noted that El-Rufai’s years as governor were marked by far-reaching reforms that generated both support and opposition.
He claimed that some political interests may be exploiting state institutions to pursue long-standing grievances against the former governor.
Wala therefore urged the judiciary to review the bail conditions and ensure they remain realistic and consistent with constitutional provisions.
He also called on relevant government agencies to remain neutral and allow the legal process to proceed without political interference.
“The presumption of innocence must be preserved. No citizen who has not been convicted should be subjected to conditions that effectively amount to indefinite detention,” he stated.
The activist warned that failure to address concerns surrounding difficult-to-meet bail conditions could weaken public confidence in the justice system and raise broader questions about the protection of constitutional rights in Nigeria.
