Nasir El-Rufai's graft case set to commence on June 1

A Federal High Court in Kaduna has set June 1, 2026, as the date for hearing two pre-trial motions filed by Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State, in a corruption case brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

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The court, under the presidency of Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, made this decision after Mustapha Abubakar, El-Rufai's counsel, indicated that he was not prepared to proceed with the applications at that time.

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El-Rufai is facing allegations of financial misconduct, including the alleged release of billions of naira belonging to Kaduna State for unexecuted projects during his tenure as governor, which he has denied.

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On Wednesday, the court had adjourned proceedings until Thursday to rule on applications seeking a variation of some of the bail conditions granted to El-Rufai, who was admitted to bail on April 14 in the sum of N200 million with two sureties in like sum.

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As part of the bail conditions, Justice Aikawa ordered that one of the sureties must be a senior civil servant of at least Grade Level 15, while the second surety must be a recognised elder in the state, and both sureties must deposit their international passports.

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The court also restrained El-Rufai from making public comments on the matter until the case is determined, and ordered that he remain in ICPC custody until the bail conditions are perfected.

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On Thursday, Justice Aikawa ruled on the application to vary the bail conditions, rejecting the defendant's request to allow the first surety to provide a bank guarantee of N200 million instead of a cash deposit.

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However, the judge granted the application to allow the second surety to be recognised by a district head instead of the Kaduna State Council of Elders, as initially ordered.

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Abubakar drew the court's attention to two motions filed by the defence, seeking to strike out some documents attached to the charges preferred against El-Rufai by the ICPC.

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The court subsequently adjourned the case until 1 p.m. on June 1 for the hearing of these motions, which were filed in relation to the ICPC's accusations that El-Rufai authorised payments of billions of naira for allegedly unexecuted projects during his tenure as governor.

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The case has generated significant public interest due to El-Rufai's prominent role in national politics and his recent criticisms of his successor's administration in Kaduna State.