- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has on Tuesday adjourned hearing in the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to Wednesday.
NPO earlier Reported the arrival of El-Rufai at the court for the hearing of the application.
The former Kaduna governor’s return to court is coming barely two days after burying his late mother, Umma El-Rufai.
Recall that the presiding Judge, Justice Rilwanu, had earlier fixed March 31 for the bail application hearing after listening to arguments from both El-Rufai’s lawyers and prosecution counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
NPO Reported that the ICPC had last week arraigned the ex-Kaduna governor on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion of public property and money laundering.
He had however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
El-Rufai had also appeared before Kaduna state high court over alleged abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud.
The former governor was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with charge, number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26.
The ICPC’s charge was against El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule (LEDA).
According to reports, the former governor arrived the court premises around 9:40am alongside officers of the ICPC.
Security was heightened across Kaduna metropolis ahead of the arraignment, with armed personnel of the police, DSS, and Kaduna State Vigilance Service deployed to strategic locations.
Access to the court premises was restricted, as only accredited journalists and court officials were allowed entry into the premises even though they were still barred from the court room to cover the proceedings.
Counsel to El-Rufai Upon Akan declined interview with journalists after the session saying the case “has been adjourned till tomorrow”.