A Kaduna State High Court has denied bail to former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai, in an ongoing trial over alleged financial misconduct.

Delivering a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Darius Khobo held that it was in the interest of justice for the defendant to remain in custody to ensure his availability for trial.

El-Rufai was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on a nine-count charge bordering on the alleged conferment of benefits under false pretences and dishonest disposal of loan funds.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to the court, the bail application was supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit, in which the former governor argued that the offences were non-capital.

He also cited his status as a former governor, his strong community ties, and his voluntary return to Nigeria from Egypt.

El-Rufai further claimed that he had underlying health conditions requiring specialist care.

The anti-corruption agency opposed the bail request, filing a counter-affidavit.

The ICPC argued that the offences were “economically sabotaging” and raised concerns about possible interference with witnesses and ongoing investigations.

It also described the defendant as a “flight risk with the means to evade trial due to his high standing in society.” The commission added that no medical evidence was provided to support claims of ill health.

In his ruling, Justice Khobo said the bail application relied heavily on El-Rufai’s status, describing it as “a double-edged sword.”

He noted that concerns raised by the ICPC about interference with investigations were significant.

According to the certified true copy (CTC) of the ruling delivered on April 21, obtained by The Cable, the judge held that the prosecution made “weighty depositions” justifying the refusal of bail, adding that the defence failed to counter them with further evidence.

The judge said, “It is, however, noteworthy here that in spite of these weighty depositions in the Prosecution/Respondent’s counter affidavit, which sought to controvert the depositions in the Applicant’s supporting affidavit, the Applicant never deemed it fit to file a further and better affidavit to further controvert the said weighty depositions in the Prosecution/Respondent’s counter affidavit.

“In the instant case, therefore, failure to file a further affidavit by the applicant to further controvert the above-outlined weighty depositions in the Respondent’s counter affidavit leaves the said weighty depositions in the counter affidavit unchallenged and deemed to be admitted as being correct, and I so hold.

“The law is trite: if in an application for bail pending trial there is good reason to believe or strongly suspect that the accused will jump bail, thereby making himself unavailable to stand his trial, and/or will interfere with the witnesses, thereby constituting an obstacle in the way of justice, the Court will be acting within its undoubted discretion to refuse bail.

“In the instant application, the applicant alluded to facts that he has health conditions requiring specialist monitoring, but the applicant did not attach any medical evidence to substantiate his claim of ill-health.

“The law is settled that where an application for bail seeks to lay claim to ill-health, credible evidence in that branch of medicine ought to be made available before the court by the Applicant.

“Accordingly, the Defendant/Applicant’s application for bail pending trial fails and is hereby REFUSED.

“The Defendant/Applicant shall remain in the custody of the Respondent (ICPC) pending the commencement of the trial.

“The Respondent/Prosecution is hereby ordered to ensure the trial of the Defendant commences expeditiously and shall be given an accelerated hearing by this Court on a day-to-day basis where practicable.”

Afterwards, the prosecutor and el-Rufai’s counsel agreed that the trial should commence the first week of June.

The case was then adjourned to June 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2026.

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A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has dismissed all allegations filed by the Nigeria Police Force against Prof. Zainab Duke-Abiola, widow of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

In a ruling delivered by Justice E. Okpe, the court described the actions of the police as inhuman and degrading, noting that they violated the claimant’s constitutional rights.

The judge held that the treatment meted out to Duke-Abiola amounted to a clear breach of her fundamental human rights.

The court awarded ₦100 million in damages against the police, a former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and four other defendants.

Duke-Abiola had approached the court over alleged harassment and media trial by the police concerning claims that she assaulted a police orderly.

Other defendants in the suit included Inspector Teju Moses and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Umar.

In her submission, she denied the allegations, stating that she never assaulted her orderly.

She said, “Contrary to the defamatory statement… I never assaulted my former orderly neither did I instruct anyone else to do so.”

She added, “Such an incident never took place in my house as there are CCTV cameras… to debunk the claim.”

Duke-Abiola further alleged that she was a victim of a setup.

“I was never a suspect but a victim of a frame-up by the defendants,” she said.

Justice Okpe, in his judgment, described the police action as a calculated attempt to frame her and a case of political persecution.

He said, “What occurred was a forceful abduction, a brazen violation of Professor Abiola’s dignity, liberty and constitutional rights.

“She was seized without due process, humiliated and unlawfully detained.”

The court dismissed all charges against Duke-Abiola and ordered the police to tender a public apology in two national newspapers.

Justice Okpe also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the police from further harassment or intimidation of the claimant.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday met former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.

It was reports that this was disclosed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

A reason for the meeting has not been disclosed as at the time of filing this report.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Former President Goodluck Jonathan meets President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Meanwhile, Jonathan has responded to erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his submission on his competency during his time in office.

It was reports that Atiku, during a live television interview, claimed that Jonathan made many mistakes while he was President because he was inexperienced.

“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” he said.

Reacting to Atiku’s statement during the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan said no one who becomes a governor or president would say he did not make mistakes.

He defended his administration, adding that he did his best while in office.

Jonathan said: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’

“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.

“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”

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