Appeal court keeps El-Rufai in custody as trial nears
The former Kaduna governor has been held since February. Judges said he showed no new facts to justify bail. His trial is due to begin on Monday.
Kaduna — Nigeria's Court of Appeal has refused to release the former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai on bail, Premium Times reports.
A panel of three judges sitting in Kaduna dismissed his appeal on Saturday. In the lead judgment, Justice Onyekachi Aja-Otisi held that he had "failed to establish fresh facts or special circumstances" that would justify overturning the lower court.
The Kaduna State High Court refused him bail on 10 June. The appeal court also struck out a reply brief he filed on 29 September as incompetent.
The case
El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission since 18 February.
He is being prosecuted on the basis of a 2024 report by the Kaduna State House of Assembly, which alleged that public funds were mismanaged during his time as governor from 2015 to 2023. The charges also include an allegation that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was tapped.
He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and says the prosecution is politically motivated.
What happens next
The trial is scheduled to begin on 12 October. He remains in custody under a court order.
This report is based on reporting by Premium Times.
