El-Rufai Appears in Court as Bail Hearing Begins in Kaduna

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, appeared at the Federal High Court in Kaduna as proceedings continued over his bail application.

He arrived at the court early on Wednesday morning under tight security, with a strong presence of law enforcement and operatives of the Department of State Services and police officers deployed around the premises.

The hearing resumed after an earlier adjournment by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, following legal arguments between the defence and prosecution teams.

El-Rufai’s legal team had initially sought to have the judge step aside over allegations of bias, but the request was later withdrawn, contributing to delays in the proceedings.

The prosecution also opposed the bail application, filing a counter-affidavit that challenged the defence’s request, further intensifying the legal battle.

Due to limited time for response from the defence team, the court adjourned the matter to allow proper continuation of arguments.

El-Rufai is facing multiple charges, including alleged fraud, money laundering, and unlawful handling of public funds, filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Ahead of the hearing, security around the court was significantly strengthened to maintain order and prevent any disruption.

The case continues to draw public attention as legal proceedings unfold, with further updates expected as the court resumes deliberations.