The Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Muhammad Tukur Aliyu, has rejected a request by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai to transfer his ongoing criminal trial from Justice Darius Hyet Khobo to another judge for a fresh hearing.
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Justice Aliyu, in a letter dated August 19, 2026, said an investigative committee constituted to examine the allegations raised by El-Rufai and his counsel found no basis for the exercise of his administrative powers to reassign the case.
El-Rufai is standing trial before Justice Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court on a nine-count amended charge bordering on alleged advance-fee fraud, abuse of office, money laundering and corrupt practices.
The case is marked Charge No. KDOH/KAD/ICPC/01/2026, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The amended charge, dated April 10, 2026, was filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His legal team, led by Ubong Akpan, had submitted a petition dated June 30, 2026, requesting that the matter be transferred from Justice Khobo.
The former governor subsequently submitted a separate petition dated July 6, 2026, alleging bias and predetermination on the part of the trial judge.
The petitions followed Justice Khobo’s refusal to grant El-Rufai bail pending the determination of the criminal case.
El-Rufai alleged that the manner in which the judge conducted the proceedings created an impression that he had predetermined the outcome of the case.
He further alleged that the trial was being influenced by pressure from some Southern Kaduna leaders.
Justice Khobo responded to the allegations in a letter dated July 16, 2026.
Following the petitions and the trial judge’s response, the Chief Judge constituted a panel of three legal practitioners under Section 111(1) and (4) of the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, to investigate the allegations and submit a report.
The committee submitted its findings to the Chief Judge on August 18.
“I have studied and considered the petitions dated June 30, 2026 and July 6, 2026, respectively submitted by counsel for the defendant and the defendant, as well as Your Lordship’s responses to the said petitions dated July 16, 2026,” Justice Aliyu stated.
“Pursuant to the powers conferred on me under Section 111(1) and (4) of the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, a body of three reputable legal practitioners was constituted to investigate the petitions and submit its report. The committee submitted its report yesterday, August 18, 2026.
“The committee found no basis for the exercise of my administrative powers to transfer the matter from Your Lordship to another judge of the High Court of Justice, Kaduna State.”
The Chief Judge consequently directed Justice Khobo to continue hearing the case and determine it in accordance with the law and the requirements of fair trial.
“Accordingly, Your Lordship shall proceed with the hearing and determination of the matter in accordance with the law and fairness,” the letter added.
The decision means that El-Rufai’s criminal trial will continue before Justice Khobo despite the former governor’s allegations of bias and request for reassignment.
The allegations against El-Rufai remain unproven, and he is presumed innocent until found guilty by a competent court
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