El-Rufai Requests Trial Reassignment from Judge Aikawa

Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has formally approached Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Keker-Ekun, requesting the reassignment of his ongoing trial from Judge R.M. Aikawa at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, scheduled for April 9, 2026.

El-Rufai expressed concerns regarding the conduct of Judge Aikawa, suggesting that allowing the judge to continue presiding over the case could undermine public confidence in the judiciary. He highlighted that the case is linked to earlier proceedings involving similar issues, which he believes necessitates reassignment to ensure the integrity of the trial.

El-Rufai warned that proceeding under the current arrangement could damage the credibility of the judiciary and potentially invalidate the trial at the appeal stage, leading to significant personal consequences. He urged the Chief Justice to direct an immediate transfer of the case to a different judge within or outside the Kaduna division and requested that the issues raised be reviewed by the National Judicial Council.