According to reports,tThe Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday declined to allow former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai’s legal team to move the bail application during sitting.
, describing the request as premature and adjourning the matter until April 23, 2026. The ruling was delivered by Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik.
A lawyer who witnessed the proceedings disclosed that “On the El-Rufai case, the court denied his counsel the right to move for his bail application just now.
El-Rufai was not present in court during the proceedings as he remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission. some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including Bolaji Abdullahi, were in court to observe the proceedings.
El-Rufai had filed a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC and three other respondents, alleging unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.
According to court filings by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, operatives of the ICPC, accompanied by police officers, allegedly stormed El-Rufai’s residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, 2026. The legal team contended that the operation was based on what it described as a defective search warrant.
They argued that the warrant lacked specificity regarding the items to be seized and contained typographical and material errors, which they said rendered it invalid.
Concerns have also been raised by El-Rufai’s camp over his continued detention and alleged treatment while in custody.
