Court Adjourns Nasir El-Rufai’s Bail Hearing to March 31 Following ICPC Arraignment in Kaduna

​The Federal High Court in Kaduna has set March 31 for the bail hearing of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai following his formal arraignment by the ICPC.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai 

​The ongoing legal proceedings involving the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, took a significant turn on Tuesday as the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna adjourned his bail hearing to March 31, 2026. This follows his formal arraignment by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations bordering on corruption and financial irregularities. The former governor appeared before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa in a session that has drawn intense interest from political observers across the country.

​During the proceedings, El-Rufai was formally arraigned on a count specifically related to alleged deposits into a domiciliary account and the monetization of certain earnings. He was charged alongside a co-defendant, Joel Adoga. While the anti-graft agency had filed a multi-count charge, the session focused on these specific financial transactions. His legal counsel, Ubong Akpan, clarified to journalists after the court session that the charges largely center on the activities surrounding the former governor's domiciliary account.

​Despite the arraignment, no bail application was granted during the Tuesday session. The court decided to push the matter to the end of the month to allow for the consideration of all pending applications, including the request for his release on bail. The defense team noted that while the proceedings have commenced, they are still awaiting the service of documents regarding other potential cases mentioned by the prosecution.

​The atmosphere around the court remained professional, with the defense stating there were no contentious developments during the initial hearing. However, the adjournment means the former governor will remain in focus as the legal team prepares for the resumption of the case. As the March 31 date approaches, the public is closely watching the outcome of the bail hearing and how it will influence the broader trial regarding his eight-year tenure in Kaduna State.