El-Rufai's Legal Battle: Allegations of Judicial Bias

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, is currently undergoing criminal proceedings due to allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and financial impropriety related to his eight-year tenure. El-Rufai denies these allegations and is entitled to a fair hearing.

However, he has sought the removal of Justice Darius Hyet Khobo from his trial, alleging judicial bias based on the judge's Christian faith and Southern Kaduna origin. He claimed that the judge participated in gatherings where it was purportedly decided to deny him bail and secure his conviction.

An independent three-member body, established by the Chief Judge of Kaduna State, investigated these allegations and reported on August 18, 2026, that they were unproven, leading to the Chief Judge's decision to allow Justice Khobo to continue presiding over the case. This situation raises significant concerns about the intersection of ethnicity and religion in the judicial process in Kaduna.