Former minister says conditions imposed on ex-Kaduna governor are excessive, uses sarcasm to highlight concerns

Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has sharply criticized the bail conditions granted to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing them as overly stringent and unreasonable.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Monday, May 18, 2026, Amaechi expressed disbelief at the terms set by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of ₦100 million with one surety in like amount.

In a sarcastic swipe at the court, Amaechi suggested that the conditions were so excessive that judges might as well have gone further. He quipped that the court “forgot” to demand the remains of El-Rufai’s late parents as part of the bail requirements.

“There is something they omitted—his late father and mother. He should excavate them and bring their bodies to show that he would not escape,” Amaechi said, underscoring his view that the bail terms were unnecessarily harsh.

Amaechi’s remarks add to the growing debate surrounding the court’s decision, with critics questioning whether the conditions imposed on El-Rufai are proportionate.