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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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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Sheik Abdukadir Sani Zaria, the Islamic scholar arrested by Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu has been moved to the Federal High Court in Abuja for prosecution.

He was brought to court with a retinue of security escorts and his personal associates.

Sani who has been in the detention facility of the DIA and later the Department of the State Service, DSS, since December 2025, was named among the six coup plotters on the charge sheet filed by the Federal Government and billed for arraignment in court today, Wednesday.

He is to be put on trial by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, along with five others, including military officers accused of plotting to wage war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Islamic cleric was named in counts 1, 2, 3,4, 6 and 7 of conspiring with others to commit felony while he was separately charged on count 9 of the 13-count charge.

Among the accusations against him were that he conspired to bring down a legitimate government, concealed information on the coup plot and rendered support to the coup plotters.

In count 9, the cleric was accused of retaining a sum of N2 million in his account with number 0005620270 domiciled at Jaiz Bank and transferred into the account by a Company, “A & A Express Link Concept” whose ownership was traced to one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji, said to be the arrow head of the coup plot.

His offense of terrorism financing was said to be contrary to section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on Monday ordered immediate unconditional release of the Islamic scholar from the custody of the
DIA and later the DSS.

The judge had imposed a fine of N2 million each on DIA and DSS to be paid to the cleric for breaching sections 35 and 36 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution in the ways and manners the 75 year old man was hauled into detention for more than four months without trial.

In a judgment on the fundamental rights suit instituted against DIA and others by the detained Islamic cleric,

Justice Lifu ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and Jaiz Bank to pay N1 million each as compensation to him for freezing his bank account without order of any law court.

Besides, the Federal High Court directed the DIA and DSS to tender a public apology to the detained islamic scholar for the breach of his fundamental rights.

Sheikh Sani Abdulladir Zaria was hauled into detention without order of court for allegedly associating with one of coup plotters against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Justice Lifu had lambasted the DIA for its refusal to subordinate itself to civil rule and rule of law by refusing to produce the detained man in court when ordered to do so.

He said that as agency established by law, the DIA should not place itself above the laws of the land in the discharge of its statutory functions.

The judge held that the provisions of Section 36(1)(5) and (6) of the 1999 Constitution avail him and “for all citizens.”

He noted that Nigeria, being a signatory to different international conventions on human rights, cannot afford to be held behind on such issues.

The judge noted that since December 11, 2025, the applicant was kept in “safe custody” without access to family and associates after an investigation was opened about him, on grounds described as security reasons.

Justice Lifu ordered the AGF to ensure immediate compliance with the judgment of the court.

The cleric had been hauled into the DIA custody since December last year following the discovery of N2 million in his Jaiz Bank account paid by one of the indicted coup plotters.

Although he agreed to forfeit the amount to the Federal Government to regain his freedom, the security agency held him to determine the level of his complicity in the alleged coup plot.

The Islamic cleric claimed innocence of the alleged crimes adding that the person who transferred the money into his account was just one of his disciples.

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