Former Governor of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday appeared at the Kaduna State High Court for the continuation of his trial over alleged financial improprieties.
He arrived at the court premises under tight but orderly security, with officials closely monitoring activities as proceedings resumed in the high-profile case.
He was granted a temporary reprieve on compassionate ground by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) after weeks in custody to allow him perform the final rites of passage for his late mother who died last week at 100 years.
The development drew reactions from his son, Bashir El-Rufai, who criticised the agency in a social media post. “My beloved great legend of a father (@elrufai) is being released from his unlawful and illegal detention at the hands of one of the most corrupt agencies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he wrote.
El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023, is facing allegations of money laundering and financial misconduct, which his legal team has denied.
The case had earlier been adjourned to allow for the hearing of pending applications, including his bail request, after he pleaded not guilty during his arraignment.
Tuesday’s proceedings are expected to address procedural issues and possibly continue substantive hearings, while it remains unclear whether he will retain his temporary bail or return to ICPC custody pending further court decisions.
