Court Declines to Hear El-Rufai’s Bail Application, Adjourns to April 23

By Abah Maragret

The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday refused to entertain the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the request as premature.

Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik, who presided over the matter, adjourned the case until April 23, 2026, for proper arraignment of the former governor.

A lawyer present in court disclosed that El-Rufai’s counsel was denied the opportunity to move the bail application during Wednesday’s proceedings.

According to the source, the court held that the bail request was immature, stressing that the defendant must first be formally arraigned before such an application could be considered.

El-Rufai was absent from court as he remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including Bolaji Abdullahi, were present to observe the proceedings.

The ruling comes amid intensifying legal disputes between the former governor and federal anti-corruption agencies.

Earlier, El-Rufai filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC and three others over what he described as an unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

The suit, filed on February 20, 2026, and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, listed the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.

Court documents submitted by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), alleged that ICPC operatives, accompanied by police officers, stormed his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, 2026, based on what the defence described as a defective search warrant.

The legal team argued that the warrant lacked specific details of items to be seized and contained material and typographical errors, rendering it invalid.

Concerns have also been raised over El-Rufai’s continued detention. His media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, alleged that the former governor suffered a nosebleed while in custody and was denied direct access to meals brought by family members.

The aide further claimed that El-Rufai was transferred overnight from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the ICPC without prior notice to his lawyers or relatives.

His legal team maintains that no valid remand order has been presented to justify his continued detention beyond constitutionally permitted limits, while efforts to secure bail have so far been unsuccessful.

With Wednesday’s decision, the court is expected to formally arraign El-Rufai when proceedings resume on April 23, as the legal battle between the former governor and federal anti-corruption agencies continues to unfold.