- The Federal High Court in Kaduna has pushed back its decision on the bail applications filed by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and his co-defendant, Jimi Lawal, establishing a new decision date for early next month.
- El-Rufai navigated intense public and legal scrutiny on Wednesday, physically appearing before two separate high-level judges in Kaduna to face independent charges regarding money laundering and abuse of office.
- The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has leveled an amended 11-count charge involving multiple corporate fronts, including Singularity Network Security Limited, over alleged misapplication of state resources.
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned until July 1, 2026, to deliver its ruling on the respective bail applications filed by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and his co-defendant, Jimi Lawal.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the high-profile defendants are currently being prosecuted over an alleged multi-count corruption and financial misappropriation case instituted against them by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
EDITOR’S PICK
- Hamzat Appoints Obanikoro as Campaign DG Ahead of 2027 Lagos Governorship Race
- Tinubu’s State Police Plan Gains Momentum as Amendment Looms
- Residents Raise Alarm After Two Bodies Found in Lagos Waterway
The ex-governor, who arrived at the court premises under heavily fortified security parameters, entered a plea of not guilty, consistently maintaining that his administrative actions between 2015 and 2023 were executed transparently and in the absolute public interest.
The state legal battle saw El-Rufai appearing before two separate courts within the state capital on Wednesday.
At the Federal High Court complex, presided over by Justice Hauwa’u Buhari, the former governor alongside Lawal, who served as a senior special adviser during El-Rufai’s tenure, were arraigned on an amended 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and abuse of public office.
While El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to Count One, Lawal recorded non-guilty pleas for Counts Six, Seven, and Eight.
Additionally, a prominent corporate entity identified as Singularity Network Security Limited was formally arraigned on seven distinct counts, bringing the total number of trial defendants to two individuals and five corporate bodies.
Following extensive technical submissions and legal arguments from both the ICPC prosecution team and the defence counsel regarding the pending bail terms, Justice Buhari officially deferred the ruling to allow for a comprehensive evaluation of the affidavits.
This particular federal matter had previously suffered a brief delay due to the strategic absence of two co-defendants at a prior sitting, prompting the court to push the hearing forward.
Simultaneously, the political heavyweight had to appear before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court for a parallel trial also spearheaded by the ICPC.
The separate state-level litigation addresses overlapping allegations of unlawful financial dealings and contract inflation.
After a brief presentation of procedural matters, Justice Khobo subsequently adjourned the state high court case until June 29, 2026, for further hearing.
The anti-graft agency contends that its deep forensic investigations into the former administration uncovered severe anomalies regarding the disbursement of government funds and public procurement protocols.
This development follows a prior ruling by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, who had initially granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of ₦200 million with stringent surety conditions, including the requirement of a traditional ruler and a high-ranking civil servant.
A subsequent application by El-Rufai’s legal team seeking a variation of those bail terms was blocked by the court, keeping the national spotlight firmly fixed on the judicial outcome of the case.
