Nasir El-Rufai Appears in Kaduna Court for Bail Hearing Amid Legal Twists

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday morning for the resumption of his bail application hearing, drawing intense security and media attention.

El-Rufai was driven into the court complex around 9:00am and alighted from his vehicle at 9:05am, watched closely by security personnel and a small group of onlookers.

Bail Proceedings Marred by Legal Maneuvers

Tuesday’s hearing had been stalled due to a flurry of legal motions from El-Rufai’s defence team. Initially, the defence filed a motion requesting Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa to recuse himself, citing alleged bias and a pending petition. This application challenged the impartiality of the court and triggered an immediate response from the prosecution.

In a dramatic turn, the defence later submitted another motion to withdraw the recusal request, creating conflicting applications and procedural delays. The prosecution also filed a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, giving the defence limited time to respond and further complicating proceedings.

Justice Aikawa subsequently adjourned the matter to Wednesday for the continuation of the bail hearing.

Heightened Security Measures

Security was tight throughout the court premises, with armed personnel strategically deployed to monitor and control movement. Journalists, including The PUNCH correspondent, were denied courtroom access as strict entry protocols were enforced.

The ongoing proceedings are expected to attract significant public and media interest, as El-Rufai faces a 10-count corruption-related charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).