El-Rufai Faces Fresh Legal Hurdle as ICPC Blocks Bail, Court Fixes New Date
By Ranti Thomas
The legal battle involving former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai has taken another turn after anti-corruption authorities opposed his latest attempt to regain freedom.
At a resumed hearing, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission told the court it is resisting a fresh bail application filed by the former governor, citing concerns already raised in the case.
The defence team informed the court that all documents supporting the new bail request had been submitted and that the matter directly affects the defendant’s liberty.
However, the prosecution said it had only just received additional documents from the defence and needed more time to review them before proceeding.
Following this development, the court adjourned the matter to May 13, 2026, for a full hearing on the bail application.
This is not the first setback for El-Rufai, as the court had earlier denied him bail over concerns that he could interfere with investigations or evade trial due to his influence.
The judge had also pointed to allegations including refusal to surrender travel documents and possible interference with witnesses, strengthening the prosecution’s argument.
Despite the earlier ruling, his legal team pushed ahead with a new application, hoping to convince the court to reconsider its position.
The ICPC, however, has maintained its stance, insisting that the case should proceed without granting bail at this stage.
Legal observers say the repeated back-and-forth highlights how serious the case has become, especially with the court placing strong emphasis on justice and due process.
As the new hearing date approaches, attention is now on whether the court will uphold its earlier decision or take a different view on El-Rufai’s request for release.