Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court has postponed the ruling on former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s bail application until the first week of June 2026, keeping the former governor in ICPC custody.
In a significant development on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Kaduna State High Court adjourned the ruling on the bail application of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the first week of June. El-Rufai, who was recently arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on an amended nine-count charge including alleged fraud and abuse of office, arrived at the court under heavy security provided by operatives of the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS). The presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, had previously fixed today for the ruling after the defense and prosecution argued the application last week, but the decision was deferred, extending the former governor’s stay in detention.
The delay has drawn sharp criticism from El-Rufai’s legal team, who described the repeated postponements as an attempt to frustrate their client. Speaking to journalists following the session, defense counsel Ukpon Akpan characterized the adjournment as “politically motivated,” noting that El-Rufai has been in custody since February 19, 2026, following a series of investigations into his tenure. Although a Federal High Court in Kaduna recently granted the former governor a separate bail in the sum of N200 million for parallel corruption charges, he must remain in the custody of the anti-graft agency until the conditions of that bail are met and the State High Court reaches a decision on this current application.
The charges against the former governor involve allegations of diverting public assets and money laundering, with the ICPC claiming discrepancies in severance allowances and foreign currency transactions during his time in office. As part of his ongoing legal battles, El-Rufai has also faced separate cybercrime charges filed by the DSS regarding the alleged wiretapping of the National Security Adviser’s phone lines. Addressing the court’s decision, Akpan remarked: “The bail application has been adjourned. Why would I sit down and then start discussing my political strategy at this forum?” He further emphasized that the defense would continue to push for the enforcement of his client’s fundamental rights.
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