Journalists Barred As El-Rufai Arrives In Court Over Bail Application

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday morning arrived at the Federal High Court in Kaduna for the continuation of the hearing of his bail application.

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The ex-governor was driven into the court premises at about 9:00am and stepped out of the vehicle at exactly 9:05am, attracting the attention of security operatives and a handful of observers in the vicinity.

Security was visibly tightened around the court, with armed personnel strategically positioned within and outside the premises to maintain order.

As proceedings resumed, according to The PidomNigeria, journalists were barred from entering the courtroom as security operatives enforced strict entry controls.

Naija News reports that 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.

During the earlier session, the defence had filed a motion urging the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, to recuse himself from the matter over alleged bias and a pending petition.

The application, which challenged the impartiality of the court, marked a significant turn in the proceedings and drew immediate opposition from the prosecution.

In a dramatic reversal, the defence team 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, resulting in 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.