El-Rufai in court for bail hearing
By Ishaya Ibrahim
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, will learn today, Wednesday, April 1, whether he will be granted bail or remain in detention, as the Federal High Court in Kaduna rules on his bail application.
El-Rufai was returned to the detention facility of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on March 31 after a brief temporary release from custody three days earlier.
The bail ruling was originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, but was adjourned to today.
The resumed hearing follows Tuesday’s proceedings, which were stalled after the defence team introduced fresh twists to the case.
The defence filed a motion requesting the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, to recuse himself from the matter over alleged bias and a pending petition.
The application, which questioned the court’s impartiality, marked a significant turn in the proceedings and prompted immediate reactions from the prosecution.
In a dramatic reversal, the defence subsequently filed another motion seeking to withdraw its earlier request for the judge to step aside.
The conflicting applications triggered a flurry of legal exchanges between counsel for both parties, causing procedural delays that ultimately stalled the hearing of the bail application.
The situation was further compounded when the prosecution presented a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, leaving the defence with limited time to study and respond to the new filings.
In light of these developments, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to Wednesday for continuation of the hearing on the bail application.
Armed security personnel were strategically positioned within and around the court premises, restricting movement and closely monitoring activities.
Journalists were barred from gaining access to the courtroom as security operatives enforced strict entry controls.
Additional report from Punch Newspaper
