JUST IN: El-Rufai Arrives at Kaduna Federal High Court for Bail Hearing
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday morning for the resumed hearing of his bail application.
El-Rufai was driven into the court premises around 9:00 am and stepped out of the vehicle at 9:05 am, attracting the attention of security personnel and a small group of onlookers.
The resumed hearing follows Tuesday’s proceedings, which were stalled after the defence team introduced a series of legal maneuvers that complicated the case.
According to reports by The PUNCH, the earlier session was disrupted when the defence filed a motion requesting that the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, recuse himself over alleged bias and a pending petition.
The motion, which questioned the impartiality of the court, marked a turning point in the proceedings and prompted an immediate response from the prosecution. However, in a dramatic reversal, the defence later filed another motion withdrawing its earlier request for the judge to step aside.
These conflicting applications sparked extensive legal exchanges between both parties’ counsel, causing procedural delays that postponed the bail hearing.
The situation was further complicated when the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, leaving the defence limited time to review and respond.
In light of these developments, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to Wednesday for the continuation of the bail application hearing.
Security was heightened around the court, with armed personnel stationed strategically to control movement and monitor activities. Journalists were barred from entering the courtroom as strict entry measures were enforced.
