The Kaduna State High Court has adjourned ruling on the bail application of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to Tuesday, April 14, following his arraignment on an amended nine-count charge filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Abang, told journalists after Monday’s proceedings that the prosecution had introduced fresh charges, dropping one of the earlier defendants and leaving El-Rufai as the sole accused.
He said the amended charges were served on the defence team in court, making it impossible to proceed with the hearing.
“The charges are entirely new to us. They were given to us this morning while we were already in court. That is why the matter could not proceed to a hearing,” Abang said.
He added that the defence would first study the charges before taking further steps.
“We will analyse the charges and make our position known. For now, there is nothing we can do until we have fully reviewed them,” he stated.
The court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, subsequently adjourned for ruling on El-Rufai’s bail application.
According to the charge marked KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/2026, the ICPC is accusing the former governor of fraud, abuse of office, and corruption allegedly committed during his tenure.
Among the allegations, the anti-graft agency claimed that El-Rufai induced the Kaduna State Government in 2016 to confer an N11 billion benefit on a firm for a light rail project said not to have been executed.
He is also accused of approving and receiving about N289.8 million in severance benefits above the legally approved amount, and allegedly disposing of over $1 million linked to a World Bank loan in violation of agreed terms.
Other counts include alleged inducement of investigators, breach of procurement laws, and unlawful allocation of land.
El-Rufai had earlier been arraigned alongside a businessman, Amadu Sule, before the amended charge left him as the sole defendant.
The former governor was in ICPC custody from February 19 until March 28, when he was granted temporary release on compassionate grounds to attend his mother’s burial.
Meanwhile, speaking briefly to journalists after the court session, El-Rufai reacted to questions about the upcoming African Democratic Congress (ADC) convention, saying, “I will be there in spirit.”
