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 at around 9:00 a.m. and alighted from his vehicle at exactly 9:05 a.m., drawing the attention of security personnel and a few observers.
The hearing resumes following Tuesday’s proceedings, which were disrupted after a series of legal maneuvers by the defence introduced new twists to the case.
The earlier session was stalled after the defence filed a motion requesting the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, to recuse himself, citing alleged bias and a pending petition.
In a surprising development, the defence later withdrew the motion, seeking to continue proceedings before Justice Aikawa.
The conflicting filings led to intense legal exchanges between the defence and prosecution, causing further delays in the hearing of the bail application.
The prosecution also presented a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, limiting the defence’s time to respond. Consequently, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to Wednesday for the continuation of the bail hearing.
Security around the court was tight, with armed personnel stationed strategically within and outside the premises. Journalists were barred from entering the courtroom as security officers enforced strict entry controls.
