El-Rufai Calls for Justice Aikawa's Removal from Trial

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has formally requested the Chief Justice of Nigeria to reassign Justice R.M. Aikawa from presiding over a trial involving ten counts of charges related to alleged abuse of office, money laundering, and fraud amounting to N579.6 million and $1.1 million.

The case is scheduled for a bail hearing on April 14, 2026, with a petition date set for April 9, 2026. El-Rufai argues that Justice Aikawa's continued involvement in the case undermines public confidence in the judiciary due to his history of unresolved disciplinary complaints and ethical concerns.

He emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding the integrity of judicial proceedings and suggests that allowing Aikawa to continue could lead to irreparable injustice and compromise the judicial process. El-Rufai urges the Chief Justice to take immediate action to reassign the case to ensure fairness and uphold public trust in the judiciary.