El-Rufai’s Trial Stalled as Kaduna Court Awaits Decision on Judge Transfer Application

The corruption trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, suffered another delay on Monday after the Kaduna State High Court suspended further proceedings pending a decision on an application seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.

Justice Darius Khobo adjourned the matter until July 15, 2026, following an application by El-Rufai’s legal team asking the judge to withdraw from the case and requesting that the matter be reassigned to another judicial officer.

The defence had argued that it no longer had confidence in obtaining justice before the court, prompting a formal request for the judge’s recusal.

The development prevented the commencement of the accelerated hearing earlier scheduled for July 6, 7 and 8.

When the case was called, the prosecution informed the court that El-Rufai, who is currently being held by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was not present for the proceedings.

Lead prosecuting counsel, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, told the court that ICPC officials had attempted to bring the former governor to court but that he declined to accompany them, saying he wanted to consult his personal doctor.

According to the prosecution, El-Rufai did not make any formal request to the commission to see his physician before the court date.

Adedipe said that when the ICPC medical officer examined him, the former governor reportedly indicated that he had no medical complaint but wanted to honour a request from his wife to consult his personal doctor.

The prosecution also informed the court that the defence had served it with a motion filed earlier that morning, seeking Justice Khobo’s recusal and asking for proceedings to be suspended pending the determination of the application.

Opposing the defence application, Adedipe argued that the Kaduna State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), 2017, allows courts to continue criminal proceedings where a defendant deliberately fails to appear.

He also maintained that criminal proceedings cannot automatically be halted simply because a defendant has filed an application seeking the judge’s withdrawal from a matter.

However, counsel to El-Rufai, Ubong Akpan, urged the court not to proceed with the accelerated hearing, informing the judge that the defence had already petitioned the Chief Judge of Kaduna State requesting that the case be reassigned.

Akpan argued that allowing proceedings to continue while the recusal request and transfer petition were pending could undermine the integrity of the judicial process.

In his ruling, Justice Khobo agreed with the prosecution that the filing of a recusal application does not automatically stop criminal proceedings and that the ACJL provides for continuation of trial where a defendant wilfully refuses to appear.

The judge, however, noted that the situation had changed because the Chief Judge had already received a formal request concerning the transfer of the case.

Justice Khobo consequently directed the prosecution to respond to the defence application and adjourned the matter until July 15, 2026, when the court is expected to consider the recusal request.

The adjournment will also allow time for the Chief Judge of Kaduna State to determine whether the case should remain before Justice Khobo or be reassigned to another judge.

El-Rufai is standing trial on a nine-count amended charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, fraud, conferring undue advantage, irregular award and execution of public contracts, money laundering and unlawful handling of public funds during his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State.

The former governor has denied wrongdoing and has challenged aspects of the proceedings through his legal team.

The case has attracted significant public attention, with proceedings expected to continue once the court resolves the pending application on the judge’s involvement in the matter.