Court adjourns El-Rufai’s bail hearing till Wednesday

The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday postponed the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to Wednesday.

The adjournment followed proceedings conducted under tight security, underscoring the heightened public interest surrounding the high-profile corruption trial.

Counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the development shortly after the session but declined to provide further details.

“I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” he said.

Moments after the court session ended, El-Rufai was escorted out of the premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in a white Hilux vehicle.

Earlier, the former governor had arrived at the court under heavy security for the continuation of proceedings on his bail request, an arrangement similar to what was observed during his arraignment last week when he was first docked.

El-Rufai is currently standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10 count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.

He was brought before the court after spending over a month in detention, a situation that has continued to attract widespread attention nationwide.

The court had earlier scheduled March 31, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the bail request.

However, the anti-graft agency had, on March 27, 2026, released him on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.

In a related development, the former governor was earlier on Tuesday arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges.

At the State High Court, he was docked alongside one Amadu Sule on allegations ranging from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage.

The charges, also filed by the anti-corruption commission, are distinct from those before the Federal High Court.

Following proceedings at the State High Court, the commission transferred El-Rufai to the Federal High Court within the same premises for the continuation of proceedings.

With the adjournment, the hearing of the bail application is expected to resume on Wednesday.