UPDATED: El-Rufai denied bail, to remain in custody as court adjourns trial to June
A Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday refused bail to former governor of the state, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and adjourned further proceedings in his trial to the first week of
A Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday refused bail to former governor of the state, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and adjourned further proceedings in his trial to the first week of June 2026.
The presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, fixed the adjournment after listening to arguments from counsel, directing that the case would proceed on a day-to-day basis at the next sitting.
Speaking with reporters shortly after the ruling, defence counsel, Ubong Akpan (SAN), faulted the court’s decision, particularly the denial of bail to his client.
He said, “The court, in its wisdom, decided that because Nasir El-Rufai is a former governor, he is going to interfere with the investigation. Consequently, he is not entitled to bail in an allegation of financial impropriety.”
Akpan, however, acknowledged the court’s efforts but maintained his disagreement with the ruling.
“We are grateful to His Lordship for the learning he has shown, but we respectfully disagree. That’s the end of it; there’s not much more to say,” he added.
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The senior lawyer disclosed that the defence team would challenge the decision through the appropriate legal channels.
“The next step is to take the legal steps required to challenge it. The matter has been adjourned to the first week of June for a day-to-day hearing to address all issues before the court,” he said.
Akpan insisted that the charges against his client were politically motivated.
“From the beginning, everything about Nasir El-Rufai’s travails has always been political. This is mainly its legal arm. We will deal with whatever comes,” he stated.
On the prosecution’s filings, he said: “Their papers do not have politics written on top of them. They are legal documents, and we will respond accordingly, as required by law.”
Earlier, the defence counsel had addressed a crowd of supporters of the former governor at the court premises, many of whom were visibly emotional, with some shedding tears.
“All of you are acting as if somebody died. Nobody died. Sometimes things work against you in a conflict, but don’t be frightened,” he told them.
“Stand up. We are going to take this battle on, and we are going to win,” he added, urging calm.
Observers noted that many of the supporters wore gloomy expressions following the ruling.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission had earlier arraigned El-Rufai on a nine-count charge alleging abuse of office, fraud, and other financial crimes.
The charges include claims that he induced the Kaduna State Government to release about N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.
He is also accused of approving and receiving about N289.8 million as severance allowance above the legally approved amount, and mismanaging over $1.08 million from a World Bank facility.
Other allegations involve the purported unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract, land-related infractions, and attempts to compromise investigators.
The former governor has denied all the allegations.
Journalists were, however, barred from entering the courtroom during the proceedings.
