Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday appeared before the Federal High Court in Kaduna for arraignment on charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
At the commencement of proceedings, El-Rufai’s legal team expressed surprise that Justice R. M. Aikawa was presiding over the matter.
The defence reminded the court that their client had already filed a petition against the judge, which is currently pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC).
Justice Aikawa ruled that he would proceed with the arraignment of the two defendants.
However, he directed that the issue of his recusal should be formally raised through a written application by the defence.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to March 31, 2026, for the hearing of bail applications and any other motions filed on behalf of El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
The development follows a recent judgment by the Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal, which on March 17, 2026, set aside Justice Aikawa’s earlier decision in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by El-Rufai in 2024.
The appellate court held that the former governor had been denied a fair hearing and ordered the Federal High Court to rehear the matter afresh.
The controversy around Justice Aikawa dates back to July 18, 2024, when El-Rufai’s counsel, A. U. Mustapha, SAN, filed a petition accusing the judge of bias, injustice, and denial of fair hearing.
The petition, addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, requested that the case be reassigned to another judge.
When the request was not granted, the defence pursued an appeal, which eventually succeeded.
El-Rufai later filed a second petition against Justice Aikawa on February 12, 2025, addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) in her capacity as Chairman of the NJC.
In the petition, the former governor accused the judge of bias, injustice, denial of fair hearing, and conduct unbecoming of a judicial officer.
El-Rufai reportedly sent reminders regarding the petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria in November 2025 and again in March 2026.
In the latest correspondence, he urged the Chief Justice to ensure that the NJC expedites the resolution of the petition and consider transferring all related cases before the Federal High Court in Kaduna to another judge.
The request, according to the defence, was aimed at restoring impartiality and safeguarding the integrity of judicial proceedings.
