EL-RUFAI APPEARS BEFORE COURT AS BAIL HEARING COMMENCES

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By: Balogun Ibrahim

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

El-Rufai was driven to the court premises around 9:00 a.m. and stepped out of the vehicle at 9:05 a.m., attracting the attention of security personnel and a small number of onlookers nearby.

The hearing resumed following Tuesday’s proceedings, which had been stalled after the defence team introduced a series of legal maneuvers that added new developments to the case.

According to The Media, the earlier session was disrupted when the defence filed a motion requesting that the presiding judge, Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa, recuse himself over alleged bias and a pending petition.

The bail application, which challenged the impartiality of the court, marked a pivotal moment in the proceedings and drew immediate responses from the prosecution.

In a surprising turn, the defence later filed a motion to withdraw its earlier request for the judge to recuse himself from the case.

The conflicting motions sparked a series of legal exchanges between the counsel for both sides, causing procedural delays that ultimately stalled the hearing of the bail application.

The situation became more complex when the prosecution filed a counter-affidavit opposing the bail request, leaving the defence with limited time to review and respond to the new submissions.

In light of these developments, Justice Aikawa adjourned the case to Wednesday for the continuation of the bail hearing.

Armed security personnel were deployed strategically inside and around the court premises, restricting movement and closely monitoring activities.

Journalists, including a correspondent from Hotjist, were denied access to the courtroom as security operatives enforced strict entry controls.