A Kaduna State High Court has adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the first week of June 2026, prolonging legal proceedings in his ongoing corruption trial.
Justice Darius Khobo, who is presiding over the matter, fixed the new date on Tuesday following proceedings in the case in which El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The former governor is facing multiple charges bordering on alleged financial crimes and abuse of office during his tenure in Kaduna State. He has, however, consistently denied all allegations.
The latest adjournment comes amid a complex web of legal battles involving El-Rufai across different courts.
In a related development last week, a Federal High Court granted bail to the embattled former governor in a separate but connected case also instituted by the ICPC, marking a significant twist in the high-profile prosecution.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that El-Rufai appeared before the Kaduna State High Court under tight security, reflecting heightened public interest in the proceedings. Journalists were barred from accessing the courtroom during earlier sittings, fuelling speculation over the nature of the case.
Court insiders had disclosed that the trial suffered delays after the prosecution introduced an amended nine-count charge, which significantly altered the structure of the case. The revised charge dropped an earlier co-defendant, Amadu Sule, leaving El-Rufai as the sole accused.
Reacting at the time, his counsel, Ubong Akpan (SAN), said the defence team was caught off guard by the development.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed,” Akpan had said.
The charges against El-Rufai stem from his time in office and include allegations that he authorised the release of about N11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.
The ICPC also accused him of approving and receiving about N289.8 million as severance allowance above the legally permitted threshold, as well as mismanaging over $1.08 million from a World Bank loan.
Other allegations include the unlawful award of a N4.6 billion CCTV contract in Kaduna metropolis in breach of procurement laws, and an alleged conspiracy to bribe federal investigators.
In addition to the Kaduna State High Court case, El-Rufai is also standing trial before a Federal High Court on a separate 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, as well as the alleged conversion and possession of public property.
With the latest adjournment, the legal battle facing the former governor is set to continue into June, as both the prosecution and defence prepare to argue the pending bail application.
