Court of Appeal Denies Nasir El-Rufai Bail Application

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna dismissed an appeal by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai regarding a fresh bail application that was previously denied by the Kaduna State High Court. The unanimous judgment, delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, stated that El-Rufai did not present new facts or special circumstances to warrant a change in the lower court's ruling.

The Kaduna State High Court had rejected El-Rufai's second bail application on June 10, 2026, and ordered an accelerated hearing in his case. El-Rufai is facing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for alleged financial offences from his time in office, which he denies.

The appellate court noted concerns raised by the prosecution regarding El-Rufai's public comments that could interfere with justice. The court affirmed that El-Rufai remains presumed innocent until proven guilty, and his voluntary return to custody after attending his mother's burial was considered insufficient to demonstrate he was not a flight risk.