Breaking: Court adjourns El-Rufai’s bail hearing

The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to Wednesday.

Counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Abang (SAN), confirmed the development shortly after the court session but declined to give further details on the proceedings.

“I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” he said.

Following the adjournment, El-Rufai was escorted out of the court premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a white Hilux vehicle.

Earlier, the former governor had arrived at the Federal High Court under tight security for the hearing of his bail application in an ongoing corruption trial.

The heavy security presence mirrored the situation during his earlier court appearances, including his arraignment last week.

El-Rufai is standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.

He was brought before the court after spending over a month in detention, a development that has attracted widespread public attention.

The court had previously fixed March 31, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications, including his bail request.

However, on March 27, 2026, the ICPC released him on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.

In a related development, El-Rufai was also arraigned earlier on Tuesday before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges.