Court Returns El‑Rufai To ICPC Custody, Fixes March 31 For Bail Hearing,

Court returns el‑Rufai to ICPC custody, fixes March 31 for bail hearing, 6:00 am WAT A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El‑Rufai, to March 31, 2026 amid ongoing corruption proceedings. El‑Rufai was this week arraigned before the court on a 10‑count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He pleaded not guilty to all counts. The former governor was brought into the court premises in the early hours by security operatives, where he awaited proceedings under heavy security presence both inside and outside the courtroom. Counsel to the defendant urged the court to grant El‑Rufai bail to allow him adequate time to prepare his defence. However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, arguing that granting bail at this stage could interfere with ongoing investigations by the ICPC. After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa adjourned the matter to March 31 for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that El‑Rufai remain in the custody of the ICPC pending that date. El‑Rufai has been held in ICPC custody since February 19, shortly after being released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).