The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to Wednesday. The adjournment was confirmed by his legal counsel, Ukpong Abang (SAN), who spoke briefly with journalists after the session. While he acknowledged the rescheduling, Abang declined to provide further details, noting that his team was in the process of filing responses related to the ongoing proceedings.
Following the court session, El-Rufai was escorted out of the premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a white Hilux vehicle. The former governor had arrived at the Federal High Court earlier in the day under tight security for the continuation of proceedings in his ongoing trial.
The heavy security presence at the court reflected the high-profile nature of the case, similar to the measures in place during his arraignment last week before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa. El-Rufai is facing a 10-count charge that includes allegations of conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.
El-Rufai’s appearance in court comes after more than a month in detention, a situation that has drawn significant public and media attention due to his status as a former governor and the prominence of the charges against him. The court had originally set March 31, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications, including the former governor’s request for bail.
Earlier this month, the ICPC granted El-Rufai temporary release on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt. Despite this temporary reprieve, legal proceedings have continued, with the former governor attending multiple court sessions under strict security.
In addition to the Federal High Court proceedings, El-Rufai was also arraigned on Tuesday before a Kaduna State High Court on separate charges, reflecting the multiple strands of ongoing legal challenges he is facing. Legal analysts have noted that the combination of federal and state-level cases adds complexity to his defence strategy and underscores the seriousness of the allegations.
The continuation of the bail hearing and other court proceedings is being closely monitored by both legal observers and the general public, given the former governor’s prominence and the implications of the case for governance and anti-corruption efforts. Meanwhile, El-Rufai’s legal team is expected to continue presenting arguments in support of his bail application, as the court prepares to resume hearing the matter on Wednesday.
The developments mark yet another chapter in what has become a highly watched and closely scrutinized legal saga, with both national and international attention on the former governor’s trial.
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