Alleged corruption, others: El-Rufai set to resume trial

The trial of former Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 after the Kaduna state High Court adjourned proceedings on Monday October 12, following his absence from court over a reported request to see his personal medical doctor.

Justice Darius Khobo fixed the next hearing for noon and directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which has custody of the former governor, to produce him in court for the continuation of proceedings.

At Monday’s sitting, ICPC lead counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, told the court that the prosecution had expected El-Rufai to be present despite a request by his lead defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, for an adjournment to attend the swearing-in of a new set of Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the Supreme Court. Blueprint reports

Adedipe said he contacted the commission to establish why the former governor had not been brought to court and was informed that El-Rufai had requested to see his personal physician for a review of medical test results.

The information was subsequently communicated to the court, which directed that the defendant and all counsel be present at the next sitting.

Tuesday’s proceedings come amid continuing legal battles over El-Rufai’s detention, his unsuccessful efforts to secure bail in the Kaduna State case and a separate controversy involving a medical report submitted in support of his request for release.

The development also follows the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his latest bail challenge, leaving the lower court’s decision refusing to release him in place.

Appeal Court dismisses bail appeal

On October 9, the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal challenging the refusal of bail by the Kaduna State High Court.

In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel held that the former governor had failed to establish fresh facts or special circumstances warranting interference with the lower court’s decision.

The lead judgment, delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, affirmed the ruling of the state high court, which had refused El-Rufai’s second bail application on June 10.

During the appeal, Erokoro argued that the offences against his client were bailable and did not attract the death penalty. He also maintained that continued detention was affecting the former governor’s ability to prepare adequately for his trial.

The ICPC opposed the appeal, arguing that El-Rufai had not presented sufficient grounds to justify overturning the trial court’s exercise of discretion.

The prosecution also raised concerns about statements allegedly made by the former governor during a televised interview, arguing that they could raise questions about possible interference with the administration of justice.

The appellate court’s decision did not amount to a determination of the substantive charges against El-Rufai, who remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The ruling, however, meant that the refusal of bail by the Kaduna state High Court remained in force as the trial continued.

How El-Rufai’s legal troubles began

El-Rufai’s legal troubles escalated in February 2026 when anti-corruption and security agencies intensified investigations into allegations relating to his administration of Kaduna state between 2015 and 2023.

Before his detention by the ICPC, the former governor had visited the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja following an invitation over alleged financial improprieties.

On February 18, the ICPC confirmed that El-Rufai was in its custody in connection with its investigations.

The development followed his earlier allegation that security operatives had attempted to arrest him after his return from Cairo, Egypt. He also made allegations concerning an intercepted telephone conversation involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, claiming it revealed a plan to arrest him.

The interception allegation subsequently became the subject of a separate case instituted by the Department of State Services.

The ICPC investigation, meanwhile, centred on alleged financial misconduct and abuse of office. The commission obtained a remand order on February 19, allowing it to detain him for an initial 14 days while investigations continued.

The commission secured an extension on March 5. El-Rufai challenged the remand order, but the court dismissed his application on March 9, allowing his detention to continue under the subsisting order.

The investigations subsequently resulted in multiple charges before different courts, leading to a series of legal arguments over bail, the admissibility of evidence and the circumstances of his continued cdetention.

Multiple charges over alleged financial misconduct

On March 24, El-Rufai was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Kaduna alongside Joel Adoga, a former associate, over a 10-count charge involving allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, fraud and unlawful handling of public funds.

The ICPC alleged, among other things, that the former governor received severance allowances exceeding his lawful entitlement and was involved in transactions relating to public funds.

The allegations included payments of about ₦289.8 million on two occasions, which the commission claimed exceeded the legally prescribed entitlement, as well as alleged dealings involving more than $1 million.

El-Rufai and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In a separate case before the Kaduna state High Court, the former governor faced allegations including abuse of office, fraud, attempted fraud and conferring undue advantage in connection with transactions and actions purportedly undertaken during his administration.

The legal proceedings expanded further in June when El-Rufai was arraigned before the Federal High Court alongside his former senior special adviser, Jimi Lawal, and five companies over an alleged ₦8.68 billion CCTV surveillance contract in Kaduna state.

The ICPC filed an amended 11-count charge in that case, which included allegations of corruption and money laundering.

The cases are separate proceedings, and the allegations against El-Rufai remain subject to judicial determination. He has denied wrongdoing.

Federal High Court grants bail, Kaduna court refuses release

El-Rufai secured a significant legal reprieve on April 14 when the Federal High Court granted him bail in the case before it.

The court fixed bail at ₦200 million, subject to conditions that included two sureties. One was required to be a serving or retired federal government official not below Grade Level 15, while the other had to be a recognised traditional ruler.

The court also imposed requirements relating to the sureties’ passports and directed El-Rufai not to make public comments about the case.

However, the bail order did not automatically secure his release because it applied to the proceedings before the Federal High Court and did not override the separate case at the Kaduna State High Court.

On April 21, Justice Khobo rejected another bail application by the former governor in the state court.

The defence argued that the charges were not capital offences and that El-Rufai was entitled to bail under the law. The prosecution opposed his release, raising concerns about the allegations, possible interference with investigations and the need to ensure his availability for trial.

The court declined to grant bail, leaving him in custody while the proceedings continued.

The contrasting decisions meant that the Federal High Court’s bail order alone could not secure his release while the separate proceedings and detention-related issues remained unresolved.

Disputed medical report complicates bail efforts

El-Rufai subsequently approached the Kaduna State High Court with another bail application on medical grounds.

His defence presented a medical report dated June 10, 2026, which purportedly originated from the National Hospital, Abuja. The document reportedly indicated that the former governor had advanced metastatic prostate cancer and required specialised treatment said to be unavailable in Nigeria.

The ICPC challenged the report, maintaining that the hospital had no record of treating El-Rufai and had not authorised the document.

The commission argued that the hospital’s position undermined the credibility of the medical evidence presented in support of the bail application.

On June 29, Justice Khobo dismissed the medical bail application, declining to release the former governor on the basis of the disputed document.

The court, however, directed the ICPC to provide El-Rufai with unrestricted access to his personal medical physicians and ensure that he could be escorted to a specialised diagnostic or clinical facility of his choice within Nigeria when necessary.

The directive addressed his access to medical care despite the court’s refusal to grant bail.

The controversy surrounding the report subsequently extended beyond the bail proceedings, leading to an investigation involving his personal physician.

ICPC arrests El-Rufai’s personal physician

The dispute over the medical report led to the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, an oncology consultant.

On July 7, the ICPC announced that it had arrested the doctor following a court-approved medical visit involving El-Rufai at the private wing of the National Hospital in Abuja.

The commission said it had facilitated the visit in compliance with a court directive and its responsibility to respect the rights and welfare of persons in its custody.

According to the ICPC, the visit was arranged after El-Rufai requested to consult his personal physician. The commission subsequently questioned the circumstances surrounding the visit, alleging that activities beyond the scope of the medical consultation had taken place.

The agency also raised concerns after photographs circulated online purportedly showing El-Rufai meeting visitors during the period designated for the consultation.

The commission said it would bring the matter to the court’s attention and subsequently announced that Abubakar had been taken into custody for further investigation.

The arrest generated controversy over the circumstances of the medical visit and its connection to the disputed report submitted in support of El-Rufai’s bail application.

The ICPC later filed a four-count charge against Abubakar, accusing him of allegedly issuing a false medical report intended to mislead a public officer and support the former governor’s bail application.

The charges included allegations of providing false information and using his professional position to confer an improper advantage. The prosecution maintained that the report contained false information.

The doctor’s case is separate from the corruption charges against El-Rufai, although the prosecution links the alleged report to the former governor’s attempt to secure bail. The allegations against Abubakar remain subject to judicial determination.

El-Rufai’s family has also raised concerns about his health and treatment in custody, with his wives appealing publicly for fair treatment and access to appropriate medical care.

What to expect as trial resumes

Tuesday’s sitting is expected to bring renewed attention to El-Rufai’s appearance in court and the continuation of the pending proceedings.

Justice Khobo’s directive places responsibility on the ICPC to produce the former governor after the commission informed the prosecution that he had requested a medical review.

The hearing does not, in itself, resolve the dispute surrounding the medical report, determine the separate allegations against his physician or settle the substantive corruption charges against the former governor.

The Court of Appeal’s dismissal of his bail appeal has also left the state high court’s refusal of bail in place, meaning that the trial will continue while El-Rufai remains in custody, subject to any further judicial orders.

With allegations pending before different courts, the outcome of each case will depend on the evidence presented and the decisions reached by the respective judges.

For now, the immediate issue before the Kaduna State High Court is the continuation of proceedings following Monday’s adjournment and the production of the former governor as directed by the court.