El-Rufai's Trial Hits Snag as Co-Defendants Fail to Appear

The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, was put on hold on Monday due to the absence of two co-defendants. El-Rufai, who was in attendance, arrived at the court premises at about 9:30 a.m. in the company of officials from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, as well as personnel from the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force. However, the proceedings could not go ahead as scheduled because the two other defendants who are standing trial alongside El-Rufai were nowhere to be found. As a result, the presiding judge, Justice Rilwanu Aikawa, adjourned the matter until June 24, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing. The charges against El-Rufai are related to allegations of abuse of office, financial impropriety, and fraud during his tenure as governor. The prosecution has alleged that public funds were released for projects that were either not executed or were handled irregularly during El-Rufai's administration. The former governor has consistently maintained his innocence, stating that all actions taken during his tenure were in accordance with the law. The trial, which has been ongoing, has been attracting significant public attention due to El-Rufai's prominent role in national politics and his influence in Kaduna State's governance for eight years. The case against El-Rufai stems from investigations conducted by the ICPC into the award and execution of contracts, as well as the management of public funds during his administration between 2015 and 2023. The anti-corruption agency has alleged that some government projects for which funds were approved and released were either not executed, abandoned, or handled in violation of due process requirements. The prosecution has also contended that some officials who served under the former governor were involved in transactions that allegedly resulted in financial losses to the Kaduna State Government. El-Rufai and the other defendants have denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that all contracts and expenditures undertaken by the administration complied with extant laws and procurement procedures. The trial is expected to resume on June 24, when the court will hear pending applications and continue with substantive proceedings. El-Rufai has been in detention since February 16, after he returned from Cairo, Egypt.