By Peter Omopo
A Federal High Court in Kaduna has ordered the remand of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, following the adjournment of his bail application.
The court, presided over by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, adjourned the hearing until Wednesday after the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, allowing both parties time to respond.
Proceedings were conducted under tight security amid heightened public interest. El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the adjournment date but declined to comment further after the session.
During the hearing, the defence filed a motion seeking the recusal of the presiding judge over alleged bias and a pending petition. However, the application was later withdrawn.
With the bail application still pending, the court directed that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody.
The development comes shortly after the anti-graft agency granted the former governor temporary administrative release on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai.
El-Rufai had returned to court after the burial, as proceedings in the case continue.
