El-Rufai’s trial stalled as court fixes June 1 for hearing

The corruption trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suffered a setback on Thursday after a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned proceedings till June 1, 2026, to hear two pre-trial motions filed by the defence. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting El-Rufai over alleged financial misconduct during […]

The corruption trial of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, suffered a setback on Thursday after a Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned proceedings till June 1, 2026, to hear two pre-trial motions filed by the defence.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is prosecuting El-Rufai over alleged financial misconduct during his administration.

The former governor has denied all allegations.

At Thursday’s sitting, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa fixed June 1 for hearing after defence counsel, Mustapha Abubakar (SAN), informed the court he was not ready to move the applications.

The motions seek to strike out some documents attached to the charges filed by the ICPC.

The court had earlier adjourned the matter for ruling on an application seeking variation of El-Rufai’s bail conditions.

Justice Aikawa had on April 14 granted the former governor bail in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered him to remain in ICPC custody pending the fulfilment of the conditions.

Under the bail terms, one surety must be a senior civil servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a recognised elder in Kaduna State.

Ruling on the application Thursday, the judge rejected the defence request to allow a bank guarantee in place of a cash deposit for the first surety.

However, the court approved a modification allowing the second surety to be recognised by a District Head instead of the Kaduna State Council of Elders.