Tension gripped the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday as the much-anticipated bail hearing of former governor Nasir El-Rufai was adjourned to March 31, 2026, after fierce legal fireworks between prosecution and defence.
The court premises witnessed heavy security deployment, with armed operatives mounting checkpoints and restricting movement as journalists, lawyers, and political supporters thronged the venue for the high-stakes proceedings.
Amid the tight security, El-Rufai arrived under the watch of officials from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), setting the stage for a dramatic courtroom showdown.
Inside the courtroom, defence counsel Ukpon Akpan passionately urged the court to grant bail, arguing that his client’s constitutional rights must be upheld and that he needs freedom to properly prepare his defence.
But the prosecution pushed back strongly, insisting that the weight of the corruption and abuse of office charges against the former governor makes bail inappropriate at this stage, warning it could jeopardize ongoing investigations.
El-Rufai, alongside co-defendant Joel Adoga, is facing trial over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure—charges brought by the ICPC in a case that continues to draw national attention.
With arguments now concluded, all eyes turn to March 31, when the court is expected to rule on the explosive bail request in a case that could shape the legal and political future of the embattled former governor.
