Court of Appeal Rejects El-Rufai's Bail Request in 2026

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna dismissed the bail appeal filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on October 8, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/K/254C/2026.

The appellate court upheld the decision of the Kaduna State High Court, which had previously refused El-Rufai's bail application. The court ruled that the trial court exercised its discretion judicially and judiciously, finding that El-Rufai's appeal lacked merit and that there was no miscarriage of justice in the trial judge's decision.

The court identified deficiencies in the affidavit submitted by El-Rufai for bail and concluded that the lower court's findings did not warrant appellate interference. Counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe, noted that El-Rufai had previously filed three separate bail applications, all of which were denied.

El-Rufai's counsel, Paul Erokoro, argued that the offences were bailable and that continued detention could hinder his client's defense preparation. The substantive trial is set to begin on October 12, 2026, with El-Rufai denying any wrongdoing.