Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria — A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna State, northwestern Nigeria, has postponed the hearing of a bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, and ordered that he remain in custody until a new date.
The presiding judge, Rilwanu Aikawa, fixed Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings after listening to arguments presented by both the defence team and the prosecution on Wednesday. The development means the former governor will continue to be held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Nigeria’s federal anti-corruption agency, pending the determination of his bail request.
Okay News reports that El-Rufai is facing a 10-count charge filed by the ICPC. The charges relate to alleged conversion of public property and money laundering during his time in office as governor of Kaduna State, a key political and economic centre in northern Nigeria. He pleaded not guilty to all counts when he was arraigned before the court.
Earlier in the day, the former governor arrived at the court premises at about 9:00 a.m. West African Time (WAT, GMT+1). He was conveyed in a black Hilux vehicle and accompanied by operatives of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), the country’s domestic intelligence service. Observers noted that he appeared calm as he walked into the courtroom, dressed in a light brown traditional riga outfit and cap.
Following the proceedings, one of his legal representatives, Ubong Akpan, who holds the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), confirmed the adjournment while speaking with journalists. He indicated that the lead counsel would later brief the media on further details concerning the case.
The adjournment means the court will reconvene in two weeks to determine whether El-Rufai will be granted bail while his trial continues. The decision is expected to shape the next stage of the legal process and influence how quickly the case progresses.
