Kaduna High Court delays ruling on ex-governor’s bail application amid fraud trial.
By Yahaya Jinjiri | Kaduna, Nigeria
A Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the bail hearing of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to June 2026. The development extends the uncertainty surrounding his bid for pre-trial release in an ongoing fraud and abuse of office case.
Trial Judge, Darius Khobo, announced the adjournment on Tuesday during proceedings in Kaduna.
El-Rufai appeared in court under the custody of operatives from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
His counsel, Ukpon Akpan, criticised the repeated delays, describing them as politically motivated and an infringement on his client’s right to a timely hearing.
The latest postponement follows an earlier adjournment on April 14, when the court initially scheduled a ruling on the bail application for April 21 before deferring it again to June.
El-Rufai was arraigned on April 13 by the ICPC on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office. A co-defendant, Amadu Sule, was removed from the updated charge sheet.
In a separate case before the Federal High Court in Kaduna, the former governor had earlier been granted bail in the sum of N200 million by Justice Rilwanu Aikawa.
Despite that ruling, he remains in ICPC custody, having been detained since February 19 after his release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was briefly granted compassionate release on March 27 to attend the burial of his mother before being returned to custody.
Defence Raises Concerns Over Delays
El-Rufai’s legal team has expressed dissatisfaction with the repeated adjournments, arguing that the delays undermine the principles of fair hearing and due process.
They maintain that the court should expedite proceedings, particularly on the issue of bail.
Multiple Legal Battles Ongoing
The former governor is currently facing parallel legal proceedings in both state and federal courts.
While bail has been granted in one case, his continued detention under ICPC custody highlights the complexity of the charges and overlapping jurisdictions.
The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of high-profile public officials and the challenges of Nigeria’s judicial process in handling politically sensitive cases. Prolonged pre-trial detention and repeated adjournments raise concerns about due process, judicial efficiency, and public confidence in the justice system.
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