The Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday adjourned the bail hearing of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to June 2026, ordering him to remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The trial judge, Darius Khobo, fixed the first week of June for ruling after listening to arguments from both the prosecution and the defence on the bail request.
El-Rufai is standing trial on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, abuse of office and corruption.
The anti-graft agency had earlier amended the charge, leaving the former governor as the sole defendant before the Kaduna State High Court.
At the resumed hearing, proceedings were dominated by arguments on the defendant’s application for bail.
Counsel for the ICPC opposed the application, arguing that granting bail could undermine ongoing investigations.
He further alleged that the defendant might interfere with witnesses or evidence.
However, the court declined to deliver an immediate ruling, instead ordering that El-Rufai be remanded in ICPC custody pending its decision.
El-Rufai’s counsel, Ukpon Akpan, expressed frustration with the repeated adjournments after the court session.
He described the pattern as politically motivated and a deliberate obstruction of his client’s right to a timely hearing.
The latest postponement comes after Judge Khobo had on April 14 adjourned the verdict on the bail application to April 21 — only to push it further to June on Tuesday.
El-Rufai was arraigned at the Kaduna State High Court on April 13 by the ICPC on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office.
The anti-graft agency removed a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, from the amended case.
In a separate criminal charge at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, the former minister was granted N200 million bail by Justice Rilwanu Aikawa.
El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 19, following his release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was briefly released on compassionate grounds on March 27 to attend the burial of his mother, who passed away that same day, before being returned to custody.
