Court of Appeal Nullifies Previous Ruling Against Nasir El-Rufai Citing Gross Violation of Constitutional Fair Hearing Rights

The Court of Appeal nullifies a previous judgment against Nasir El-Rufai, citing lack of fair hearing. The case is remitted for a fresh hearing in Kaduna.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 18, 2026, 5:31 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP

Appellate Court Invalidates Lower Judicial Proceedings on Procedural Grounds

The Court of Appeal has delivered a significant legal victory for Nasir El-Rufai by affirming his fundamental right to a fair hearing in his ongoing dispute with the Kaduna State House of Assembly. In a comprehensive ruling, the appellate court set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, citing critical procedural errors that undermined the legitimacy of the earlier trial. This decision effectively wipes the slate clean regarding previous judicial conclusions in suit number CA/K/240/2024, emphasizing that constitutional protections must take precedence over administrative speed in high-profile investigations.

Judicial Errors and Failure of Service Identified in High Court Conduct

At the heart of the appeal was the conduct of Justice R.M. Aikawa, who proceeded with a hearing in July 2024 despite a lack of evidence that El-Rufai had been properly served with the necessary legal notices. The Court of Appeal held that the lower court erred fundamentally by moving forward without ensuring the appellant had received the respondents’ counter-affidavit. By conducting these proceedings in the absence of a verified service, the trial court was found to have acted without the necessary jurisdiction, rendering its subsequent July 30 judgment null and void.

Remittal for Fresh Hearing Under New Judicial Oversight

Following the nullification of the previous proceedings, the Court of Appeal has remitted the case to the Federal High Court for reassignment. To ensure impartiality and address the procedural failures of the past, the matter will be heard by a different judge from the start. This move addresses a specific grievance raised by El-Rufai’s legal team, led by A.U. Mustapha (SAN), who had previously argued that the original trial judge should have recused himself after hearing the matter during a court vacation without a formal application.