El-Rufai arrives court for bail hearing

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna this morning, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for the resumed hearing of his bail application.


Key Details of the Proceedings
Context: The hearing follows a session yesterday, March 31, which was stalled due to legal maneuvers. El-Rufai's legal team had initially filed a motion for the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, to recuse himself, only to later withdraw that application. Additionally, the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit to the bail application, which required time for the defense to review.

Current Status: Today’s proceedings are focused on hearing the bail application. El-Rufai remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and was brought to the court under tight security.

Broader Legal Context: Aside from this case, El-Rufai is also facing separate charges at the Kaduna State High Court alongside a businessman, Amadu Sule, regarding allegations of abuse of office and fraud; that case has been adjourned to April 10, 2026. Furthermore, he has initiated a fundamental rights suit in Abuja against the ICPC, which is set for hearing on June 17, 2026.