The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, until Wednesday.
The adjournment followed proceedings conducted under heavy security, reflecting heightened public interest in the high-profile corruption case.
Counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the development shortly after the session but declined to provide further details. “The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” he said, noting that he needed to file additional responses.
Shortly after the court rose, El-Rufai was escorted out of the premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a white Hilux vehicle.
Earlier in the day, the former governor had returned to court amid tight security for the continuation of proceedings on his bail request, mirroring the situation during his arraignment the previous week.
El-Rufai is standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.
The case has drawn widespread national attention, particularly as the former governor had spent over a month in detention prior to his recent court appearances.
Although the court had initially fixed March 31, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the bail request, proceedings were delayed, leading to the adjournment.
The anti-graft agency had earlier, on March 27, granted El-Rufai temporary release on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
In a related development, the former governor was also arraigned earlier on Tuesday before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges. He was docked alongside one Amadu Sule on allegations including abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud.
The charges at the state court are distinct from those before the Federal High Court, though both were filed by the ICPC.
Following proceedings at the State High Court, El-Rufai was moved within the same premises to the Federal High Court for the continuation of his bail hearing.
With the latest adjournment, the court is expected to resume hearing on the bail application on Wednesday, as legal arguments continue in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched corruption trials.
