El-Rufai to Spend Another Night in Custody After Court Adjourns Bail Hearing
The Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered the remand of former Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The court adjourned the hearing of his bail application to Tuesday, April 14, 2026, following proceedings on Monday, April 13.
Court Proceedings and Charges
El-Rufai appeared before the court alongside his co-defendant, Amadu Sule, amid heavy security presence. He pleaded not guilty to all nine charges filed by the ICPC on March 18, 2026, which allege abuse of office and financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor.
During the hearing, the ICPC requested that Amadu Sule be removed from the suit, and the judge granted this plea, effectively dropping all charges against him. This development leaves El-Rufai as the sole defendant in the case.
Background: Court of Appeal Ruling
This trial follows a recent Court of Appeal judgment that set aside earlier rulings by Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. The appellate court, in case CA/K/240/2024, found that El-Rufai was denied a fair hearing because he was not served with a hearing notice for proceedings on July 18, 2024, and was not given the opportunity to respond to a counter-affidavit.
As a result, the Court of Appeal nullified the rulings from July 30, 2024, citing a lack of jurisdiction, and ordered the case to be reassigned to another judge. El-Rufai had petitioned against Justice Aikawa, accusing him of bias and denial of fair hearing, based on this appellate decision.
Legal Analysis
Legal practitioner Binzak Azeez commented on the case, stating that while conducting an investigation after arrest does not align with international practices, El-Rufai's arrest is within the scope of Nigerian law. Azeez emphasized that the proceedings are being closely watched as they unfold in the Federal High Court.
The adjournment means El-Rufai will spend at least another night in ICPC custody as he awaits the bail hearing on Tuesday. The case highlights ongoing efforts by anti-graft agencies to address allegations of corruption among public officials in Nigeria.
