₦airaland Forum

The Kaduna state high court on Tuesday, April 21, denied the bail application of Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of the state.

Darius Khobo, the presiding judge, held that it was in interest of justice for el-Rufai to remain in custody in order to be available for trial.

The former governor was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on nine counts bordering on alleged conferment of benefit under false pretences and dishonest disposal of loan funds.

El-Rufai, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Journalists were barred from the court proceedings, with reporters relying on information from counsel to report the issues.

TheCable has obtained the certified true copy (CTC) of the ruling delivered on April 21.

THE RULING

During the court proceedings, the judge said el-Rufai’s bail application was supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Muhammed Bala Aliyu.

The judge said el-Rufai argued that the offences are non-capital, noting that he is a former governor with deep community ties.

Khobo added that el-Rufai said he voluntarily returned from Egypt, that the charge is fundamentally defective, and that he has health conditions requiring specialist monitoring.

The judge said the ICPC opposed the bail application and filed a nine-paragraph counter-affidavit dated April 13, deposed to by Idris Abubakar.

Khobo said the ICPC argued that the offences against el-Rufai are “economically sabotaging” and that there is a “genuine fear of interference with witnesses and ongoing investigations involving other persons still at large.”

The ICPC said el-Rufai obstructed law enforcement officers at Abuja airport in February and that the former governor is a “flight risk with the means to evade trial due to his high standing in society.”

The commission also said “no medical evidence was provided to substantiate the claim of ill health” by el-Rufai.

Ubong Akpan, counsel to el-Rufai, told the court that the defendant’s prayer for bail was “anchored primarily on constitutional and statutory presumptions in favour of liberty.”

Osuobeni Akponimisingha, counsel to ICPC, opposed the bail application, urging the court to prioritise the severity of the alleged economic crimes and the risk of interference.

In his ruling, the judge said el-Rufai’s bail application “relies heavily” on his status as a former governor and former minister, adding that his “high status is a double-edged sword”.

The judge said the apprehension of ICPC that the release of el-Rufai may sabotage the ongoing investigations into other suspects still at large is “a weighty consideration”.

The judge held that ICPC made “weighty depositions” in its counter-affidavit to justify why the bail application should not be granted, adding that the applicant failed to file a further affidavit to counter the respondent.

It is, however, noteworthy here that inspite these weighty depositions in the Prosecution/Respondent’s counter affidavit which sought to controvert the depositions in the Applicant’s supporting affidavit, the Applicant never deemed it fit to file a further and better affidavit to further controvert the said weighty depositions in the Prosecution/Respondent’s counter affidavit,” the judge said.

“In the instant case, therefore, failure to file a further affidavit by the applicant to further controvert the above-outlined weighty depositions in the Respondent’s counter affidavit leaves the said weighty depositions in the counter affidavit unchallenged and deemed to be admitted as being correct, and I so hold.

The law is trite: if in an application for bail pending trial there is good reason to believe or strongly suspect that the accused will jump bail, thereby making himself unavailable to stand his trial, and/or will interfere with the witnesses, thereby constituting an obstacle in the way of justice, the Court will be acting within its undoubted discretion to refuse bail.

“In the instant application, the applicant alluded to facts that he has health conditions requiring specialist monitoring, but the applicant did not attach any medical evidence to substantiate his claim of ill-health.

“The law is settled that where an application for bail seeks to lay claim to ill-health, credible evidence in that branch of medicine ought to be made available before the court by the Applicant.

“Accordingly, the Defendant/Applicant’s application for bail pending trial fails and is hereby REFUSED.

“The Defendant/Applicant shall remain in the custody of the Respondent (ICPC) pending the commencement of the trial.

“The Respondent/Prosecution is hereby ordered to ensure the trial of the Defendant commences expeditiously and shall be given an accelerated hearing by this Court on a day-to-day basis where practicable.”

Afterwards, the prosecutor and el-Rufai’s counsel agreed that the trial should commence the first week of June.

The case was then adjourned to June 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2026.

aestake:
This one na govt? hshsjshsghshsd

SlavaUkraini:
https://www.thecable.ng/document-court-ctc-details-why-el-rufais-bail-application-was-denied/

Wealthoptulent:
LOLZ, u go dey TRY GOVERNMENT?

aestake:
This one na govt? hshsjshsghshsd

ppogba:
Heaven never still fall as some people predicted since the arrest of Hell Rufai ni?

AMINDA:
Neither will heaven fall when Tinubu and his enablers get docked after 2027. Time is a gentleman.

AMINDA:
They are clearly afraid of what a free Elrufai can do. They know how he made them president. So Elrufai who voluntarily presented himself to the authorities cannot be granted bail because he is a former governor? We are happy that this dangerous precedence is being set. Tables will turn and it will definitely go round. Time is a gentleman.

Krankhead:
ElfufIus now your messiah.

Wickedfact:
Go ask Kanu.
He can explain better.

Wealthoptulent:
LOLZ, u go dey TRY GOVERNMENT?

MAKE BABA ORDER more NATIVES ooo, PARRY at the COURT ROOM Still PLENTY oo.

e go give dem CONFIRM WEARS any APPEARANCE DAY in COURT na APPEARANCE ON RUNWAY in PAGEANT SHOW


na ONLINE you dey sha u fit RUN AM, but mind you they are FISHERS of MEN, dem fit FISH U OUT! no say dem OPRESS YOU by THEN oo

AMINDA:
Neither will heaven fall when Tinubu and his enablers get docked after 2027. Time is a gentleman.

amaridigital:
His enablers maybe but Tinubu never.
Even if Tinubu lose the election which is almost impossible, nobody can touch a former president. That's why people like Babangida are doing book launch up and down. Unless you want to set the country on fire then try arrest Obj, Jonathan or Babangida tomorrow you hear.

AMINDA:
They are clearly afraid of what a free Elrufai can do. They know how he made them president. So Elrufai who voluntarily presented himself to the authorities cannot be granted bail because he is a former governor? We are happy that this dangerous precedence is being set. Tables will turn and it will definitely go round. Time is a gentleman.

P.S: The DSS is now seeking anonymity for so-called witnesses that it wants to use in testifying against Elrufai. Only the guilty are afraid.

jamafa:
You heard it with your ears when he said, he tapped NSA phone. If it's sane country, é go no where e go dey now

Pootle:
my response is to the questionaire, was he not alive when them carry emefiele

IJAYA001:
Exactly my thought, Buhari even pleaded on Emiefele then.
It's very difficult to fight Government.

AMINDA:
They are clearly afraid of what a free Elrufai can do. They know how he made them president. So Elrufai who voluntarily presented himself to the authorities cannot be granted bail because he is a former governor? We are happy that this dangerous precedence is being set. Tables will turn and it will definitely go round. Time is a gentleman.

P.S: The DSS is now seeking anonymity for so-called witnesses that it wants to use in testifying against Elrufai. Only the guilty are afraid.

AMINDA:
They are clearly afraid of what a free Elrufai can do. They know how he made them president. So Elrufai who voluntarily presented himself to the authorities cannot be granted bail because he is a former governor? We are happy that this dangerous precedence is being set. Tables will turn and it will definitely go round. Time is a gentleman.

P.S: The DSS is now seeking anonymity for so-called witnesses that it wants to use in testifying against Elrufai. Only the guilty are afraid.

aestake:
Jailing folks who dislike your ways are not governance. Bring in electricity 24hr/7days, water, good roads, housing, education and agriculture are benefits of a govt and not colobing INEC, courts, police, army are not. But since you have not tasted good governance, you have no idea.

aestake:
Jailing folks who dislike your ways are not governance. Bring in electricity 24hr/7days, water, good roads, housing, education and agriculture are benefits of a govt and not colobing INEC, courts, police, army are not. But since you have not tasted good governance, you have no idea.

ppogba:
Main reason why people should learn to wail and weep unnecessarily.

What goes round comes around.