The Kaduna State High Court has adjourned ruling on the bail application of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to June, extending his wait for a decision on his bid to regain freedom.
At Tuesday’s sitting, the presiding judge informed parties that the court was unable to deliver its ruling as earlier scheduled and consequently shifted the decision on the bail application to a date in June. The court maintained that the adjournment was necessary to allow sufficient time to conclude and deliver a considered ruling on the issues raised by both the prosecution and the defence in the bail motion.
El-Rufai, who is standing trial on corruption-related charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has been seeking bail at the State High Court even as a separate Federal High Court in Kaduna has already granted him conditional bail in a different case. The State High Court, however, had previously postponed its ruling at least once, citing constraints that made it impossible for the judge to finalise the decision within the earlier timeline.
During the proceedings, counsel to El-Rufai urged the court to consider his client’s status, health, and constitutional right to liberty, insisting that the charges are bailable and that the former governor would not interfere with investigations or abscond if released. Prosecutors opposed the application, arguing that the gravity of the allegations, which include abuse of office and fraud, warranted caution in granting bail and stressed the need to ensure the defendant’s full participation in the trial.
The adjournment means El-Rufai will remain in the custody of the anti-graft commission or continue to rely on the separate Federal High Court bail conditions, pending the State High Court’s decision in June. The ruling, when eventually delivered, is expected to shape the tempo of the trial and could influence wider public debate around accountability, due process and the treatment of high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria’s justice system.
