El-Rufai Seeks Case Reassignment Over Judicial Bias Claims

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has formally petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to reassign his ongoing case from Justice R. M.

Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna. The petition, filed on April 9, 2026, expresses concerns about perceived judicial bias, arguing that Justice Aikawa's continued handling of the matter does not meet established legal ethical standards.

El-Rufai highlights multiple allegations against the judge and emphasizes that the case's circumstances are linked to earlier proceedings involving similar issues. He asserts that reassignment is necessary to avoid any perception of bias that could undermine public confidence in the judicial process.

El-Rufai warns that allowing the case to proceed under the current arrangement could harm the credibility of the judiciary and potentially lead to the nullification of the trial at the appellate level. He urges the CJN to order an immediate reassignment of the case to a different judge, either within or outside the Kaduna division, and calls for administrative measures to safeguard the integrity of the trial.