Court of Appeal Denies Nasir El-Rufai Bail Plea

The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has upheld the refusal of bail to former Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The three-member panel unanimously dismissed El-Rufai's appeal, stating he failed to present fresh and compelling evidence for his release from detention pending his criminal trial.

This ruling, delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, affirmed the Kaduna State High Court's decision from June 10, 2026, which rejected El-Rufai's second bail application. The court noted that the former governor had not established any special circumstances warranting intervention.

The prosecution raised concerns about possible interference with justice, citing El-Rufai's public statements and an interview where he allegedly admitted to wiretapping the National Security Adviser's phone. The appellate court emphasized that its decision did not imply guilt and that El-Rufai retains the presumption of innocence.

Additionally, El-Rufai argued that his return to custody after attending his mother's burial demonstrated he was not a flight risk.