Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday morning arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna for the resumed hearing of his bail application.
El-Rufai drove into the court premises around 9:00 a.m. and stepped out of his vehicle at 9:05 a.m., drawing the attention of security operatives and a small group of onlookers stationed nearby.
The hearing resumed following Tuesday’s proceedings, which were disrupted after a series of legal maneuvers by the defence introduced fresh twists to the case.
The earlier session was interrupted when the defence filed a motion seeking the recusal of Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa over alleged bias and a pending petition, raising questions about the court’s impartiality.
In a surprising turn, the defence later withdrew the motion, prompting further scrutiny.
The prosecution also submitted a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, leaving the defence with limited time to respond to the new filings.
Justice Aikawa subsequently adjourned the case to Wednesday for the continuation of the bail hearing.
Security around the court was heightened, with armed personnel positioned both inside and outside the premises, restricting movement and closely monitoring activities.
Journalists, including a correspondent from The PUNCH, were denied access to the courtroom as strict entry protocols were enforced.