The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna State has dismissed an appeal filed by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai challenging the refusal of his bail application by a state high court.
A three-member appellate panel led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, while delivering the judgment on Thursday, affirmed the June 2026 ruling of the Kaduna State High Court. The appellate court held that the former governor failed to establish new facts or special circumstances to justify interfering with the earlier decision.
The appellate court maintained that the lower judge acted within judicial discretion based on the affidavit evidence presented.
“There is no merit in this appeal; it fails and is hereby dismissed. The ruling of the lower court delivered on 10/6/2026 is hereby affirmed.”
However, the appellate court clarified that the refusal of bail does not equate to a finding of guilt, explaining that the accused remains presumed innocent until proven otherwise under constitutional provisions.
The court subsequently upheld the directive for an accelerated hearing, ordering the criminal trial to proceed on a day-to-day basis as far as practicable while investigations are ongoing.
El-Rufai is currently facing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged financial infractions and procurement irregularities during his eight-year tenure. The former governor, who has been in custody since March 2026, has denied the allegations of wrongdoing.
During the proceedings, the prosecution opposed the bail request, arguing that El-Rufai’s public statements during a televised interview raised serious concerns regarding potential interference with the course of justice.
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