The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Tuesday postponed the hearing of a bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to Wednesday.
The adjournment followed proceedings conducted under heavy security presence, underscoring the heightened public attention surrounding the high-profile corruption case.
Speaking briefly after the session, counsel to the former governor, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the development but declined to provide further details.
He said, “I’m sorry, I can’t speak now. We are in the middle of work and I need to go file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow.”
Moments after the court session ended, El-Rufai was escorted out of the premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in a white Hilux vehicle.
Earlier in the day, the former governor had arrived at the court under tight security for the continuation of proceedings on his bail request, similar to the arrangement during his arraignment last week.
El-Rufai is currently standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property, as well as money laundering.
He was brought before the court after spending over a month in detention, a situation that has continued to attract widespread attention nationwide.
The court had initially fixed March 31, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the bail request.
However, the anti-graft agency had on March 27, 2026, granted him temporary release on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
In a related development, El-Rufai was earlier on Tuesday arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges.
At the state court, he was docked alongside one Amadu Sule on allegations including abuse of office, fraud, intent to commit fraud, and conferring undue advantage. The charges are distinct from those before the Federal High Court.
Following the proceedings at the State High Court, the commission subsequently moved him to the Federal High Court within the same premises for the continuation of his trial.
With the latest adjournment, the hearing of the bail application is expected to resume on Wednesday.