The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has reserved judgment in former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s appeal challenging the refusal of his bail application by the Kaduna State High Court.
The three-member appellate panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, reached the decision on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, after hearing arguments from El-Rufai’s legal team and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The court did not announce a date for the delivery of its judgment.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the ICPC over alleged financial offences linked to his administration as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023. He has challenged his continued detention and is seeking bail pending the determination of the substantive charges against him.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, ICPC lead counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal. He argued that the Kaduna State High Court was justified in refusing El-Rufai’s bail request.
According to the prosecution, El-Rufai had submitted three separate bail applications before the lower court, all of which were rejected. Adedipe argued that while the former governor appealed against the ruling on his second application, the defence did not disclose to the Court of Appeal that a subsequent, third application had also been rejected.
The ICPC therefore maintained that the appeal was without merit and should be dismissed.
El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, took a different position, urging the Court of Appeal to overturn the lower court’s decision and grant his client bail.
Erokoro argued that the offences against El-Rufai were bailable and not capital offences. He further contended that continued detention was making it difficult for the former governor to adequately prepare his defence, particularly by limiting access to lawyers and witnesses and potentially affecting confidential communication with his legal team.
The defence also raised political considerations, describing El-Rufai as a prominent opposition figure and questioning the timing of the criminal proceedings in the period leading towards the 2027 general elections. The argument, however, remains a submission by the defence and has not been established as a judicial finding.
The legal dispute follows an earlier decision by the Kaduna State High Court in April 2026 refusing El-Rufai’s bail application. The lower court had cited the seriousness of the allegations and concerns surrounding the case while directing that he remain in ICPC custody pending the commencement of trial.
With the Court of Appeal now reserving judgment, El-Rufai’s immediate legal position remains unchanged pending the appellate court’s decision. The court’s eventual ruling will determine whether the former governor secures temporary freedom while his substantive case proceeds or remains in custody.
The development underscores the continuing judicial scrutiny surrounding the corruption-related proceedings against the former Kaduna governor and places the appellate court at the centre of the latest stage in his legal battle
Court of Appeal in Kaduna reserves judgment on Nasir El-Rufai’s bail appeal after ICPC and defence lawyers presented opposing arguments over his continued detention.
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