The Federal High Court Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Nasir El-Rufai until Wednesday.
The proceedings, conducted under tight security, reflected the heightened public interest in the high-profile corruption trial.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the adjournment but declined to provide further details, stating: “I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow.”
After the session, El-Rufai was escorted from the court premises by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission operatives in a white Hilux vehicle.
The former governor, standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge of alleged conversion and possession of public property and money laundering, had returned to court amid heavy security, similar to his arraignment last week.
El-Rufai had spent over a month in detention, drawing nationwide attention. The court had earlier scheduled March 31, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications, including his bail request. However, he was temporarily released by the anti-graft agency on March 27, 2026, on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
In a related development, El-Rufai was also arraigned earlier on Tuesday at a Kaduna State High Court in Kawo on separate charges, alongside one Amadu Sule, including abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage. These charges, also filed by the anti-corruption commission, are distinct from those before the Federal High Court.
Following the State High Court proceedings, El-Rufai was returned to the Federal High Court for the continuation of his bail application, which is now expected to resume on Wednesday.
