In a major legal development, a Kaduna State High Court has rejected the bail application filed by the former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The presiding judge, Justice Dirisu Khobo, delivered the ruling on Monday, ordering that the former governor remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as his corruption trial moves forward.

Why the Court Refused Bail

According to the ruling, the court found that El-Rufai's legal team did not provide enough weight to back up their request. Justice Khobo noted that the bail application failed to meet essential legal conditions on two primary fronts:

  • Lack of Credible Evidence: The defense failed to present sufficient supporting documentation and credible evidence to convince the court that a release during trial was warranted.

  • No "Special Circumstances": The court ruled that the defense did not prove the existence of any exceptional or special circumstances that would justify bypassing standard detention protocols before the conclusion of the case.

Consequently, the application was entirely dismissed.

Medical Accommodations and Next Steps

While the court stood firm on keeping the former governor detained, Justice Khobo did grant an order regarding his health.

The court directed the ICPC to ensure El-Rufai has unrestricted access to his doctors or any medical facility of his choice within Nigeria whenever he requires medical attention during his stay in custody.

What’s Next? El-Rufai is currently facing a nine-count charge tied to alleged abuse of office and other related anti-graft offenses. The case has been adjourned to July 7 and July 8 for the continuation of the hearing.