The Federal High Court in Kaduna Tuesday adjourned the corruption trial involving former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Wednesday 1 April, for the hearing of his bail application.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a 10-count charge bothering on allegations of corruption.
He had been in the custody of the ICPC since February 19 until his temporary release March 28 on compassionate grounds following the demise of his mother in Cairo, Egypt last Friday. She was buried on Sunday in Abuja.
The adjournment followed a brief court session during which defence counsel filed a motion urging the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, to recuse himself from the case on allegations of bias and the existence of a pending petition against him.
However, the defence subsequently filed another motion withdrawing the application seeking the judge’s recusal.
The court thereafter fixed Wednesday for the hearing of the bail application after the prosecuting counsel informed the court that a counter affidavit had just been filed.
Earlier, before his appearance at the Federal High Court, the ICPC had arraigned El-Rufai at the Kaduna State High Court alongside a businessman, Amadu Sule, on allegations of abuse of office, fraud, attempted fraud and the granting of undue advantage.
The presiding judge, Justice Darius Khobo, adjourned the matter to April 10 for hearing.
Counsel to El-Rufai, Ukpong Abang, declined to comment on developments in both courts, stating that further legal processes were ongoing and additional filings were required.
Meanwhile, journalists were barred from accessing the courtrooms during proceedings.
Security was heightened around the court premises, with armed operatives deployed along the Anguwan Sarki to Kawo Road.
The restriction of movement on a section of the road led to severe traffic congestion, leaving commuters stranded amid the prevailing high cost of petrol.
John Shiklam
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