Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai remains in custody as the Federal High Court in Kaduna has adjourned his N8.68 billion contract fraud case to December 8, 2026.
El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) alongside six others over alleged contract fraud during his time as Governor from 2015 to 2023. The case involves CCTV surveillance contracts and money laundering allegations.
According to court reports on Thursday, the judge adjourned the case because both the prosecution and defence lawyers asked for more time to study the case file after changes in their legal teams.
This is coming just days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed El-Rufai's appeal against bail denial. The three-man panel led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi said El-Rufai failed to present fresh facts to justify bail and affirmed the lower court's decision.
El-Rufai was first arrested by EFCC in February 2026 over alleged N423 billion siphoned funds, and was later re-arrested by ICPC. He has also filed a N10 billion rights suit claiming ICPC denied him access to his wife and son while in custody.
Supporters of El-Rufai say the case is politically motivated because he left APC for SDP and joined the opposition coalition. But the government says nobody is above the law.
The former Governor has denied all wrongdoing and says he is being persecuted for speaking truth to power.
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