The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has returned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to custody.
This was after Justice Rilwanu M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in the bail application filed by el-Rufai to Wednesday.
Justice Aikawa had earlier fixed March 31 for the bail application hearing after listening to arguments from both the defence and prosecution.
The ICPC on Tuesday resumed prosecution of el-Rufai and one Amadu Sule on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property as well as money laundering before Justice Maikawa in Kaduna.
The former governor had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
El-Rufai, who left custody on March 27, 2026, following the death of his mother, was re-arraigned earlier on Tuesday.
Earlier, the court had adjourned his application for bail till March 31, 2026.
But on Tuesday, he first appeared at the Kaduna State High Court for a separate charge filed against him by the ICPC.
The absence of the second defendant stalled the hearing, which was then adjourned to April 10, 2026.
The former governor arrived at the court premises at 9:40 am alongside officers of the ICPC.
Security was beefed up in Kaduna metropolis ahead of his arraignment, with personnel of the police, DSS, and Kaduna State Vigilance Service dispatched to strategic locations.
Access to the court premises was restricted, as only accredited journalists and court officials were allowed into the premises; even at that, they were still stopped from entering the courtroom to cover the proceedings.
Counsel to el-Rufai Upon Akan declined an interview with journalists after the session, saying the case “has been adjourned till tomorrow”.
El-Rufai was arraigned on Tuesday, March 24, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna by the ICPC over alleged conversation of and possession of public property and money laundering.
The former governor, who was arraigned before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa last week, was produced in court after more than a month in detention.
The court subsequently fixed March 31, 2026, to hear pending applications, including a bail request by the former governor.
