The Kaduna State High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to April 14, 2026.
El-Rufai appeared before the court amid tight security as proceedings continued in a case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), involving allegations of financial impropriety and abuse of office.
During the session, El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all nine charges brought against him by the ICPC on March 18, 2026.
Meanwhile, the ICPC requested that the second defendant, Amadu Sule, be removed from the charge, and the court granted the application, leaving El-Rufai as the sole defendant in the case.
Counsel to El-Rufai, Ukpon Akpan, urged the court to grant his client bail, arguing that the former governor is not a flight risk and is willing to comply with any conditions imposed by the court.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, stating that the nature of the charges requires careful judicial consideration.
After hearing arguments from both parties, the presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, declined to deliver an immediate ruling and adjourned the matter to April 14 for continuation of hearing and possible determination of the bail application.
“The motion for bail was taken, and the plea of the defendant was also entered. The prosecution amended the charge and removed one defendant, leaving only Mallam El-Rufai to face trial.
“The case has been adjourned till tomorrow, tentatively, for ruling on the bail application,” the court held.
Speaking after the session, El-Rufai’s counsel explained that the charges were only served on the defence on Monday morning, which made it impossible to proceed fully with the hearing.
“The charges are essentially new. We will study them, conduct our analysis, and respond accordingly. There is nothing we can do immediately as they were just served.
“They were given to us while we were in court. For now, El-Rufai remains in ICPC custody,” Akpan said.
The case has attracted significant public attention due to El-Rufai’s prominence in Nigerian politics and his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State.
