The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, till Wednesday.
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The adjournment followed proceedings that took place under tight security, reflecting heightened public interest in the high-profile corruption trial.
Counsel for the ex-governor, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the development shortly after the session but declined to give details.
“I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” he said.
Shortly after the court rose, El-Rufai was escorted out of the premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in a white Hilux vehicle.
Earlier, the former governor had returned to court amid heavy security for the continuation of proceedings on his bail request.
The security arrangement mirrored the situation during his arraignment last week when he was first docked before the court.
El-Rufai is standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property as well as money laundering.
He was brought to court after spending over a month in detention, a development that has continued to draw widespread attention across the country.
The court had earlier fixed March 31, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the bail request.
However, the anti-graft agency had on March 27, 2026, released him on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
In a related development, the former governor was earlier on Tuesday arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges.
At the State High Court, he was docked alongside one Amadu Sule on allegations ranging from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage.
The charges, also filed by the anti-corruption commission, are separate from those before the Federal High Court.
After the proceedings at the State High Court, the commission moved El-Rufai to the Federal High Court within the same premises for the continuation of proceedings.
With the adjournment, the hearing of the bail application is expected to resume on Wednesday.
Also, a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday withdrew his fundamental rights enforcement suit against a magistrate in his N1bn claim pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The withdrawal followed concerns raised by the trial judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, over the failure of the plaintiff to properly identify the magistrate sued as the second defendant.
At the resumed hearing, El-Rufai’s counsel, Ugochukwu Nnakwu, informed the court that a motion dated March 30 had been filed to discontinue the case against the magistrate.
He urged the court to strike out the magistrate’s name as well as a pending ex parte application seeking substituted service of court processes.
Counsel for the respondents, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, did not oppose the application.
In a brief ruling, Justice Abdulmalik struck out the name of the magistrate and the ex parte motion.
Following the ruling, Nnakwu sought an adjournment to enable the plaintiff to amend the originating processes.
However, counsel for the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), opposed the request, arguing that the core reliefs in the suit were tied to the search warrant issued by the magistrate.
He contended that with the magistrate no longer a party, the suit had become incompetent.
“Having struck out the name of the second defendant, it means there is no case before this court,” he argued.
But the judge disagreed, cautioning counsel against pre-empting proceedings.
“You are jumping the gun. You can respond by filing a counter-affidavit,” she said.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until June 17 to allow the plaintiff to file amended processes.
El-Rufai had instituted the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, seeking seven reliefs, including N1bn in damages against the ICPC, the Inspector-General of Police, the magistrate, and the AGF.
He is challenging the legality of a search conducted at his residence in Asokoro, Abuja, on February 19, 2026.
The former governor alleged that the operation violated his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
He is also seeking an order declaring that any evidence obtained from the search is inadmissible, as well as an injunction restraining the respondents from using such materials in any investigation or prosecution.
In their defence, the ICPC and the police maintained that the search was carried out pursuant to a valid warrant issued by a competent court.
The anti-graft agency stated that the operation followed a petition against El-Rufai and was executed in the presence of his family members, while items were recovered from the premises.
The police also argued that their officers acted within the law, insisting that the warrant was validly obtained and properly executed.
Both agencies urged the court to dismiss the suit, accusing the ex-governor of attempting to frustrate ongoing investigations.
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