The Federal High Court in Kaduna has scheduled April 14 for the ruling on former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s bail application, following arguments presented by both the defence and prosecution teams. Lead defence counsel, Adewole Iyamu, said the team is “hopeful of a favourable decision,” noting that all arguments have been fully placed before the court.

El-Rufai, who faces a 10 count corruption charge brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had earlier been in ICPC custody from February 19 until his temporary release on March 28 following the death of his mother in Cairo, Egypt. According to Iyamu, the former governor is also expected to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 10 in a separate matter filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), with all necessary legal papers already filed.

The bail application was formally moved in court and duly responded to by the prosecution, Iyamu confirmed. He added that the defence team is fully prepared for the upcoming April 10 hearing in Abuja.

Security around the Kaduna court complex has been intensified, with operatives deployed to maintain order amid heightened public attention. Journalists were barred from entering courtrooms during earlier sessions, and traffic restrictions along nearby roads caused congestion for commuters.

In a related development, El-Rufai had withdrawn his N1bn fundamental rights enforcement suit against a magistrate in Abuja after concerns were raised over the proper identification of the second defendant. Observers await further updates on both the bail application and the rights suit in the coming days.

Ademide Adebayo