Drama In Court As El-Rufai Arrives For Resumed Bail Hearing
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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday appeared at the Kaduna State High Court as proceedings resumed in a case filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The court had earlier adjourned the hearing of his bail application to April 14.
El-Rufai was previously arraigned by the ICPC on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged diversion of public assets and money laundering. The anti-graft agency alleges that the former governor was involved in financial misconduct connected to public property during his time in office.
In a separate development, El-Rufai has submitted a formal petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, requesting the reassignment of Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna from his ongoing trial.
In the petition dated April 9, 2026, he asked that the case be transferred to another judge within the Kaduna division or subjected to other administrative action, arguing that it would help preserve the integrity of the proceedings and public confidence in the judiciary.
He described Justice Aikawa’s continued oversight of the case as “untenable in law, prudence, common sense and judicial ethics,” alleging bias, pending disciplinary issues against the judge, and refusal to step aside.
Justice Aikawa is currently presiding over the 10-count ICPC charge against El-Rufai and his co-defendant.
