Court Rules On El-Rufai’s Bail Wednesday
The Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna, Tuesday, adjourned ruling on the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, till today, even as a separate Federal High Court, in Abuja, fixed June 17 to hear his N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.
At the Kaduna proceedings, El-Rufai, who is facing a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering, was brought to court under tight security for the continuation of his trial.
The heavy security presence at the court premises mirrored the situation during his earlier arraignment before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, reflecting the high-profile nature of the case.
Following the proceedings, counsel to the former governor, Mr Ukpong Abang, SAN, confirmed that hearing of the bail application had been adjourned till today.
“I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” he said briefly.
El-Rufai, who had spent over a month in detention, was subsequently escorted out of the court premises by operatives of the ICPC in a white Hilux vehicle.
The anti-graft agency had earlier granted him temporary release on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the former governor was also arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court alongside one Amadu Sule on separate charges bordering on alleged abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage.
The charges, also instituted by the ICPC, are distinct from those before the Federal High Court.
After the proceedings at the State High Court, the ICPC moved El-Rufai to the Federal High Court within the same premises for continuation of his trial.
The court had earlier fixed March 31, 2026, for hearing of pending applications, including his bail request, before the latest adjournment.
However, in Abuja, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, fixed June 17 to hear a N1billion fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted by El-Rufai against the ICPC and others over an alleged unlawful raid on his residence.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, the former governor is challenging the legality of a search warrant dated February 4, which was used to authorise a search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja.
He is contending that the warrant, issued by a Magistrate Court in the Federal Capital Territory, was invalid, null and void, having allegedly failed to meet constitutional requirements.
El-Rufai argued that the warrant lacked particularity, probable cause and was riddled with material drafting errors, ambiguity and overbreadth, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of his right to privacy guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
He further maintained that the execution of the warrant on February 19 by operatives of the ICPC and officers of the Nigeria Police Force amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental rights to dignity of the human person, personal liberty and fair hearing, as enshrined in Sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution.
Among the reliefs sought, El-Rufai is asking the court to declare that the search and seizure carried out in his residence were unlawful and unconstitutional.
He is also seeking an order declaring that any evidence obtained from the operation is inadmissible in any proceedings against him, having been procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.
The former governor further applied for an injunction restraining the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police and other respondents from relying on, using or tendering any material obtained during the search in any investigation or prosecution involving him.
He equally urged the court to compel the ICPC and the police to return all items seized from his residence, alongside a comprehensive inventory of the recovered materials.
At Tuesday’s proceedings in Abuja, El-Rufai, through his counsel, Mr Ugochukwu Nnakwu, applied to withdraw the Chief Magistrate earlier listed as the second defendant in the suit, following the court’s observation that the particular magistrate was not properly identified.
The application was not opposed by counsel to the respondents, including the ICPC, the police and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently struck out the magistrate’s name from the suit.
However, counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, argued that the removal of the magistrate had rendered the suit incompetent, since most of the reliefs were predicated on the validity of the warrant issued by the magistrate.
The court dismissed the objection and held that the applicant was entitled to amend his processes and pursue his case, directing the ICPC to file its response.
