- Former governor remains in ICPC’s custody
- Defense counsel slams adjournment as ‘politically motivated’
The Kaduna State High Court has extended the detention period for former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai by adjourning his bail hearing to June 2026, further deepening the legal limbo over his pre-trial freedom.
The presiding Judge, Justice Darius Khobo announced the new date on Tuesday as Mallam El-Rufai appeared in court under heavy security from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Department of State Services (DSS)
Addressing reporters on the latest development after the court session, Mallam El-Rufai’s counsel, Ukpon Akpan, expressed frustration with the repeated adjournments, describing the pattern as politically motivated and calling it a deliberate obstruction of his client’s right to a timely hearing.
Judge Khobo had on April 14 adjourned the ruling on the bail application to April 21 , only to push it further to June on Tuesday. The immediate past Kaduna governor was arraigned at the Kaduna State High Court on April 13 by the ICPC on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
This is as the anti-graft agency removed a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, from the amended case.
Meanwhile, in a separate criminal charge instituted at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, El-Rufai, who was a also former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was granted N200 million bail by Justice Rilwanu Aikawa.
However, the former governor has remained in ICPC custody since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Following the passing of his mother recently, El-Rufai was briefly released on compassionate grounds on March 27 to attend the burial ceremony before returning to custody.
