El-Rufai Remains in Detention as Appeal Court Upholds Bail Refusal
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna has dismissed an appeal by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai challenging the decision of the Kaduna State High Court to deny him bail.
In its judgment in Appeal No. CA/K/254C/2026, the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s ruling, holding that the trial judge had exercised his discretion judicially and judiciously, with no miscarriage of justice.
In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel held that El-Rufai had failed to establish fresh facts or special circumstances that would warrant interference with the lower court’s decision to deny him bail.
According to the Certified True Copy of the judgment, the lead judgment, delivered by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, affirmed the ruling of the Kaduna State High Court, which rejected the former governor’s second bail application on June 10, 2026.
The court also struck out the appellant’s reply brief, filed on September 29, on the grounds that it was incompetent. It resolved the sole issue for determination against El-Rufai and in favour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The appellate court held that it would not interfere with a trial court’s findings of fact unless they had been shown to be perverse. It consequently dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
The substantive trial is scheduled to commence on October 12, 2026.
The development comes days after Justice Darious Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court rejected El-Rufai’s bail and recusal applications.
El-Rufai has spent nearly eight months in detention, having been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 18, 2026.
