Kaduna High Court Postpones El-Rufai Bail Ruling Until June

A Kaduna State High Court has pushed back the bail hearing for former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to early June 2026.

Justice Darius Khobo scheduled the new date on Tuesday during the ongoing corruption trial led by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

El-Rufai faces various charges related to alleged financial misconduct and misuse of office during his time as governor.

He has maintained his innocence regarding all accusations. This delay arrives as the former official navigates multiple legal challenges across several jurisdictions, even as he recently secured bail in a separate ICPC-led case at a Federal High Court.

Proceedings in the Kaduna High Court have faced disruptions, notably following the introduction of an amended nine-count charge. This revision removed former co-defendant Amadu Sule, making El-Rufai the primary subject of the trial. His lawyer, Ubong Akpan (SAN), noted that the defense team required more time to review these updated charges, which were presented unexpectedly.

The accusations against the former governor involve several high-stakes issues, including the alleged approval of N11 billion for an unfulfilled light rail project and the receipt of N289.8 million in severance pay exceeding legal limits.

Furthermore, the ICPC claims he mismanaged over $1.08 million in World Bank loans and violated procurement regulations regarding a N4.6 billion CCTV contract. Beyond this case, El-Rufai is also currently battling a 10-count money laundering charge in a Federal High Court.