By David Lawani
A Federal High Court in Kaduna on Monday adjourned the trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in an alleged corruption case filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), following the absence of two co-defendants in the matter.
The case was postponed until June 24, although court proceedings indicated that the adjournment was necessitated by the failure of the two other defendants standing trial alongside the former governor to appear.
El-Rufai is facing prosecution over allegations of abuse of office, fraud and financial misconduct allegedly committed during his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State. The ICPC alleges that public funds were unlawfully disbursed for projects that were either not executed or were improperly managed.
The former governor has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that he acted within the law while in office and challenging the prosecution’s claims.
At Monday’s proceedings, El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 9:30 a.m. under the watch of ICPC officials, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and police personnel.
The sitting was expected to continue with the hearing of pending motions and legal arguments from both the prosecution and defence teams as the high-profile trial enters a critical stage.
The latest adjournment represents another delay in a case that has attracted national attention because of El-Rufai’s prominent role in Nigerian politics and his continued influence within opposition circles.
The ICPC had accused the former governor and others of authorising the release of public funds for projects allegedly plagued by irregularities, an allegation that forms the basis of the charges before the court.
“Funds were improperly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly managed,” the prosecution had alleged in documents filed before the court.
Earlier in the proceedings, much of the legal battle centred on El-Rufai’s application for bail and the conditions attached to it.
On April 14, 2026, the trial judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, granted the former governor bail for ₦200 million. The court ordered him to provide two sureties, including a serving or retired civil servant on Grade Level 15 and a recognised traditional ruler.
The bail conditions subsequently became a subject of legal contention after El-Rufai’s lawyers approached the Federal High Court seeking a variation of the requirements.
The development followed a separate ruling by a Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, which denied the former governor bail in a related matter, citing concerns that his status and influence could affect ongoing investigations.
“His influence could interfere with investigations into serious corruption allegations,” the court had ruled while declining the application.
