Photo caption: Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai
A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday morning arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna for the resumed hearing of his bail application.
El-Rufai was driven into the court premises at about 9:00am, but alighted from the vehicle conveying him at exactly 9:05am, drawing the attention of security operatives and a handful of observers within the vicinity.
The resumed hearing follows Tuesday’s proceedings, which were stalled after a series of legal manoeuvres by the defence team introduced fresh twists to the case.
The PUNCH reports that the earlier session was disrupted after the defence filed a motion requesting the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, to recuse himself from the matter over alleged bias and a pending petition.
The application, which questioned the impartiality of the court, marked a significant turn in the proceedings and prompted immediate reactions from the prosecution.
However, in a dramatic reversal, the defence subsequently filed another motion seeking to withdraw its earlier request for the judge to step aside from the case.
The conflicting applications triggered a flurry of legal exchanges between counsel to both parties, creating procedural delays that ultimately stalled the hearing of the bail application.
The situation was further compounded when the prosecution presented a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, leaving the defence with limited time to study and respond to the new filings.
In view of the developments, Justice Aikawa adjourned the matter to Wednesday for the continuation of the hearing on the bail application.
Armed security personnel were strategically positioned within and around the court premises, restricting movement and closely monitoring activities.
Journalists, including The PUNCH correspondent, were barred from gaining access to the courtroom, as security operatives enforced strict entry controls.
=== PUNCH ===
