The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has reserved judgment in an appeal by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, challenging the decision of the Kaduna State High Court to deny him bail.
A three-member panel headed by Justice Onyekachi Otisi reserved the judgment on Tuesday after hearing submissions from lawyers representing El-Rufai and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The appellate court did not announce a date for the delivery of its judgment.
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Following the proceedings, counsel for the ICPC, Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the court to uphold the decision of the lower court and dismiss El-Rufai’s appeal.
Adedipe told journalists that El-Rufai had previously made three separate attempts to secure bail before the trial court, but each application was unsuccessful.
According to the ICPC lawyer, the first application was dismissed, while the second was rejected after the former governor failed to demonstrate an exceptional circumstance that would justify filing another bail request.
He added that although a third application was later filed and dismissed, El-Rufai elected to challenge the ruling relating to the second application at the Court of Appeal.
Adedipe therefore described the appeal as lacking merit and asked the appellate court to dismiss it.
El-Rufai’s Lawyer Seeks Bail
Representing El-Rufai, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Paul Erokoro, urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the lower court’s decision and grant his client bail while the criminal case continues.
Erokoro argued that the offences against the former governor are bailable and do not constitute capital offences.
He maintained that continued detention was unnecessary and could interfere with El-Rufai’s ability to prepare his defence properly.
The senior lawyer also raised concerns about his client’s access to members of his legal team and potential witnesses, arguing that such access was essential to ensuring a fair trial.
According to Erokoro, prolonged detention could affect confidential communication between El-Rufai and his lawyers and ultimately undermine the preparation of his defence.
Defence Raises Political Timing
The defence also urged the court to consider El-Rufai’s status as a prominent opposition figure and the timing of the criminal proceedings ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Erokoro argued that the proximity of the case to the next general elections was a factor the court should take into account when considering the bail application.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023, is facing prosecution by the ICPC over alleged financial offences linked to his administration.
The former governor has denied the allegations and has challenged the circumstances surrounding his continued detention.
The anti-corruption agency filed charges against El-Rufai and some former officials of the Kaduna State Government over alleged financial infractions.
The case has attracted political attention, with supporters and opposition figures calling for his release and questioning the continued detention of the former governor.
The prosecution has maintained that the matter is before the court and that the relevant legal procedures should be allowed to run their course.
After considering arguments from both sides, the Court of Appeal reserved its judgment without announcing a date for delivery.
