The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has postponed further proceedings in the case involving former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, after declining to hear his bail application.
At Wednesday’s session, presided over by Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik, the court ruled that the request for bail was filed prematurely.
As a result, El-Rufai’s legal team was not permitted to argue the application.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to April 23, 2026, when the former governor is expected to be formally arraigned.
A lawyer present in court disclosed that the judge maintained the bail request could not be considered at this stage of the proceedings, stressing that proper arraignment must first take place before any such application could be entertained.
El-Rufai Remains In Custody
With the ruling, El-Rufai remains in custody under the supervision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). He was absent from court during the hearing.
Several prominent members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including Bolaji Abdullahi, attended the session to observe proceedings, reflecting the growing political attention surrounding the case.
The latest development adds to the intensifying legal standoff between the former governor and federal anti-corruption authorities.
Prior to the court sitting, El-Rufai had instituted a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC and three other parties, accusing security operatives of unlawfully invading his Abuja residence.
The suit, filed on February 20, 2026, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, named the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
The Arguments
According to court documents submitted by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, allegedly raided El-Rufai’s residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, 2026.
His legal team argued that the search was conducted on the strength of a flawed warrant, which they claim lacked clear details of items to be seized and contained significant clerical and substantive errors.
Concerns have also been raised regarding his continued detention.
His media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, alleged that the former governor experienced a nosebleed while in custody and was prevented from directly receiving food brought by family members.
The aide further claimed that El-Rufai was transferred overnight from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to the ICPC without prior notification to his lawyers or relatives.
El-Rufai’s lawyers insist that authorities have yet to produce a valid remand order to justify holding him beyond constitutionally stipulated limits.
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They argue that attempts to secure his release on bail have so far been unsuccessful.
When proceedings resume on April 23, 2026, the court is expected to formally arraign the former governor, marking the next phase in a case that continues to draw national attention.