By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, appeared at the State High Court on March 31, 2026, for the continuation of his trial on corruption charges brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
El-Rufai faces multiple charges, including abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage during his tenure as governor from 2015 to 2023. The charges follow an investigation into alleged financial misconduct during his two terms in office.
The former governor was initially arrested by the ICPC on February 18, 2026, and was held in custody for 34 days before being arraigned on March 24, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna alongside his co-defendant, Joel Adoga.
During the previous court session, El-Rufai’s legal team, led by Barrister Ubong Akpan, informed the court of a petition filed before the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan Aikawa. Justice Aikawa ruled that he would proceed with the arraignment and only consider recusal following a formal application. The court subsequently adjourned the matter to March 31 for the hearing of bail applications and other motions.
The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly after the ICPC controversially released El-Rufai on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial, despite a standing court order for his remand. The former governor’s mother passed away in Egypt just days before the trial resumed.
