ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday arrived the Federal High Court in Kaduna for the continuation of his bail hearing, stepping into a tense legal battle already marked by dramatic twists and procedural fireworks.
El-Rufai’s arrival at the court premises shortly after 9:00am drew immediate attention, as he alighted from his vehicle at exactly 9:05am under the watchful eyes of heavily deployed security operatives and a handful of observers.
The high-stakes hearing is a continuation of proceedings that were abruptly stalled on Tuesday after the defence team triggered a legal storm with a series of conflicting applications that shifted the direction of the case.
At the centre of the drama is the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, whom the defence had initially asked to recuse himself over alleged bias and a pending petition an application that sparked immediate resistance from the prosecution.
In a surprising turnaround, however, the same defence team later filed another motion seeking to withdraw its earlier request, a move that intensified courtroom tensions and led to a flurry of legal exchanges between both sides.
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The back-and-forth applications created procedural bottlenecks, effectively halting progress on the bail hearing as both parties scrambled to respond to rapidly evolving filings.
Matters became even more complicated when the prosecution submitted a counter-affidavit opposing El-Rufai’s bail request, leaving the defence with limited time to study and respond to the fresh submission.
Faced with the growing complexity, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to Wednesday, setting the stage for what is now shaping into a crucial phase of the legal contest.
Meanwhile, security around the court premises was significantly tightened, with armed personnel stationed within and outside the complex, restricting movement and maintaining strict surveillance.
Journalists, including correspondents, were denied access to the courtroom as security operatives enforced tight entry controls, underscoring the sensitivity of the case.
As proceedings resume, attention remains fixed on whether the court will grant bail or prolong El-Rufai’s legal uncertainty in a case that continues to generate national interest.