Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai To Remain In Custody Following Federal High Court Bail Hearing Adjournment

Nasir El-Rufai will remain in custody until April 14 after a Federal High Court hearing on ICPC fraud and money laundering charges.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 1, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Channels Television

Heightened Security as Former Governor Faces Financial Charges

The Federal High Court in Kaduna operated under significant security oversight on Wednesday as former Governor Nasir El-Rufai arrived for his scheduled bail hearing. Personnel from the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force established a combined perimeter around the judicial complex ahead of the 9 a.m. proceedings. El-Rufai is currently answering to a multi-count charge brought forward by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. These legal proceedings involve allegations of fraud, money laundering, and the unlawful possession of public funds during his tenure as a state executive.

Procedural Delays and Defense Strategy Shifts

The path to the current hearing was marked by several tactical shifts from the defense team, led by attorney Ubong Akpan. Initial motions filed by the defense had requested that the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, recuse himself from the case based on claims of potential bias. However, this request was subsequently withdrawn, creating a series of procedural delays that necessitated an adjournment from the previous day. The prosecution utilized this window to submit a comprehensive counter-affidavit, which formally challenged the merits of the former governor's request for temporary release.

Prosecutorial Opposition to Pre-Trial Release

Legal representatives for the ICPC have maintained a firm stance against granting bail, citing the gravity of the financial crimes alleged against the defendant. The prosecution's counter-affidavit left the defense with a narrow timeframe to formulate a rebuttal, a factor that influenced the court's decision to extend the deliberations. According to court observers, the state’s opposition focuses on the scale of the alleged misappropriation of public resources. This tension between the defense's push for freedom and the state's insistence on continued detention has defined the early stages of this high-profile litigation.