Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna for the continuation of hearing on his bail application.
El-Rufai was driven into the court premises at about 9:00 a.m. and stepped out of his vehicle minutes later, drawing attention from security personnel and a small number of observers present at the venue.
The hearing follows proceedings from Tuesday, which were stalled after a series of legal moves by the defence introduced fresh complications into the case.
During the earlier session, the defence team filed a motion asking the presiding judge, Rilwan M. Aikawa, to withdraw from the case, citing concerns over alleged bias and a pending petition.
However, in a dramatic turn, the same defence team later sought to withdraw that application, a move that sparked intense exchanges between lawyers representing both sides.
The prosecution also opposed the bail request, submitting a counter-affidavit that the defence said required time to review.
A source familiar with the proceedings said, “The conflicting applications created procedural delays and made it difficult for the court to proceed with the bail hearing.”
Justice Aikawa subsequently adjourned the case to Wednesday for the continuation of arguments on the bail application.
Security was tightened within and around the court premises, with armed personnel deployed to control movement and maintain order. Journalists were denied access to the courtroom as officials enforced strict entry restrictions.
Another observer at the court noted, “There is heavy security presence, and access is being carefully controlled as the case continues.”
The matter is expected to resume with further arguments from both the defence and prosecution as the court considers the bail request.
