A Federal High Court located in Kaduna has delayed its decision regarding the bail requests submitted by former governor Nasir El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Jimi Lawal, until July 1, 2026. Justice Hauwa’u Buhari announced the date following presentations from both legal teams regarding the corruption case initiated by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
El-Rufai, Lawal, and five associated corporate entities face 11 amended charges, which include accusations of money laundering, financial impropriety, and abuse of power. Each defendant entered a plea of not guilty to these allegations. Defense lawyers urged the court to prioritize the bail applications, leading the judge to reserve her ruling for the July date.
The former governor attended the session amid significant security presence. On the same day, El-Rufai also appeared in a separate proceeding at a Kaduna State High Court concerning similar charges of financial misconduct occurring between 2015 and 2023. That particular case is scheduled to resume on June 29, 2026. The ICPC maintains that its inquiries revealed inconsistencies regarding contract awards and public fund management, though the defendants continue to deny any wrongdoing.
