The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has dismissed an appeal by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, challenging the refusal of a fresh bail application by the Kaduna State High Court.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment obtained by our correspondent on Friday, a three-member appellate panel, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, held that El-Rufai failed to establish fresh facts or special circumstances to warrant interfering with the lower court’s decision to deny him bail.
The lead judgment, delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, affirmed the ruling of the Kaduna State High Court, which refused the former governor’s second bail application on June 10, 2026.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged financial offences arising from his administration.
The former governor has denied wrongdoing and challenged the circumstances surrounding his continued detention.
The Kaduna State High Court had earlier dismissed the bail application filed by the former governor and ordered an accelerated hearing in the matter.
Dissatisfied with the decision, El-Rufai approached the appellate court.
