Godiya Haruna
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday took former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, into custody shortly after the Federal High Court in Kaduna adjourned his bail hearing, scheduling a ruling for April 14.
The bail application had earlier been fully argued, with both the prosecution and defence presenting their submissions. Speaking to journalists after the session, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Mr. Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), expressed confidence in the judicial process.
“The bail application was argued and responded to, and the ruling has been fixed for April 14. We await the decision of the court,” Iyamu said. He further noted that the defence is preparing for a separate matter involving the DSS set for April 10 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
DSS operatives maintained a strong security presence around the Kaduna court before taking El-Rufai into custody. The former governor had earlier been escorted from the court by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Separately, El-Rufai was arraigned on Tuesday at the Kaduna State High Court, Kawo, alongside Amadu Sule, facing allegations including abuse of office, fraud, and conferring undue advantage. These state-level charges are distinct from those before the Federal High Court.
Following his arraignment at the State High Court, ICPC officials transferred him to the Federal High Court within the same premises to continue legal proceedings.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.