After at least nine hours of continuous hearing on Tuesday, the Kaduna State High Court under Justice Darius Khobo adjourned the corruption trial of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai. The case, prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has been fixed to resume on November 30…...
After at least nine hours of continuous hearing on Tuesday, the Kaduna State High Court under Justice Darius Khobo adjourned the corruption trial of former Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
The case, prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has been fixed to resume on November 30 and December 1, 2026, for further proceedings.
El-Rufai appeared in person to face the ongoing nine-count charge involving alleged fraud, abuse of office, financial misconduct and money laundering linked to his 2015–2023 tenure as governor.
His presence followed a direct order by the judge after he was absent on Monday, when the court was informed he had requested to consult his personal physician over medical test results.
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Although journalists couldn’t assess the court room accounts from those who did suggest that a DSS operative and digital forensics examiner, Segun Kayode, testified that analysis of telephone records and audio recordings revealed discussions in which six hundred thousand dollars was allegedly set aside—five hundred thousand for EFCC officials and one hundred thousand for an intermediary—to stop investigations into certain companies.
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Defence counsel objected to the admissibility of the forensic report for lack of adequate notice, but Justice Darius Khobo overruled the objection, allowed the testimony to continue, and stressed that the allegations remain yet to be established by the court.
The lengthy nine-hour session represents a significant step forward in the accelerated day-to-day trial process ordered while the former governor remains in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026.
This development comes shortly after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed his appeal and upheld the High Court’s earlier refusal to grant him bail.
All parties are expected to return for the next sittings as the substantive trial continues in the weeks ahead.