El-Rufai to remain in custody as court adjourns bail hearing to March 31: After many days in detention, the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged money laundering and corruption-related offences.
By Emma Ogbuehi
A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State has adjourned proceedings on the bail application of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to March 31, 2026.
The decision followed Tuesday’s hearing, during which legal arguments were presented by both the prosecution and the defense.
At the court session, counsel to the defendant, Ukpon Akpan, urged the court to grant his client bail, citing constitutional rights and the need to allow the former governor adequate time to prepare his defense.
However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that the charges against El-Rufai are serious and that granting bail could interfere with ongoing investigations.
After many days in detention, the former Governor of Kaduna State was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna over alleged money laundering and corruption-related offences.
The former Kaduna governor was dragged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after spending 33 days in detention.
El-Rufai was slammed with 10-count charge, marked FHC/KD/73/2026.
According to the charge sheet dated March 18, 2026, the ICPC accused El-Rufai of unlawfully taking possession of N289.8 million as severance allowance on two occasions in September 2020 and January 2023, bringing the total to about N579 million, far above the legally entitled sum of about N20 million.
The commission alleged that the former governor reasonably ought to have known that the funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful acts, including corruption, thereby violating provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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